{"id":2743,"date":"2019-05-30T18:06:40","date_gmt":"2019-05-30T23:06:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ibio.org\/?page_id=2743"},"modified":"2025-09-30T15:04:30","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T20:04:30","slug":"advocacy-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ibio.org\/advocacy\/advocacy-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Advocacy Center"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=&#8221;ADVOCACY NEWS &#038; ISSUES&#8221; subhead=&#8221;iBIO tracks bills and regularly issues statements about our position on a variety of state and federal policy proposals that impact our community. &#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; header_fullscreen=&#8221;on&#8221; background_overlay_color=&#8221;rgba(0,0,0,0.33)&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;on|on|on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; title_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; 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global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_code _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<script src=\"https:\/\/www.votervoice.net\/Scripts\/-hUAAAAAAAA\/Plugin.js\" defer><\/script> <vv:main> <\/vv:main>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; disabled_on=&#8221;on|on|on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; disabled=&#8221;on&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; z_index_tablet=&#8221;500&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;||-2px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>ADVOCACY NEWS<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=&#8221;#3f758a&#8221; divider_weight=&#8221;3px&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; max_width=&#8221;80px&#8221; height=&#8221;3px&#8221; z_index_tablet=&#8221;500&#8243; box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_vertical_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_blur_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; box_shadow_spread_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; 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box_shadow_blur_image_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; box_shadow_spread_image_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_blog][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/ibio.org\/category\/policy-news\/&#8221; button_text=&#8221;MORE ADVOCACY NEWS&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;right&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;25px&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;FED Issues&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; text_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; header_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||-2px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>FEDERAL ISSUES<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=&#8221;#3f758a&#8221; divider_weight=&#8221;3px&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; max_width=&#8221;80px&#8221; height=&#8221;3px&#8221; z_index_tablet=&#8221;500&#8243; box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_vertical_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_blur_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; box_shadow_spread_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_blog posts_number=&#8221;4&#8243; include_categories=&#8221;186&#8243; show_thumbnail=&#8221;off&#8221; use_manual_excerpt=&#8221;off&#8221; excerpt_length=&#8221;0&#8243; show_author=&#8221;off&#8221; show_categories=&#8221;off&#8221; show_excerpt=&#8221;off&#8221; show_pagination=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_blog][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;State Issues&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; text_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; header_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||-2px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>STATE ISSUES<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=&#8221;#3f758a&#8221; divider_weight=&#8221;3px&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; max_width=&#8221;80px&#8221; height=&#8221;3px&#8221; z_index_tablet=&#8221;500&#8243; box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_vertical_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_blur_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; box_shadow_spread_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_blog posts_number=&#8221;4&#8243; include_categories=&#8221;187&#8243; show_thumbnail=&#8221;off&#8221; use_manual_excerpt=&#8221;off&#8221; excerpt_length=&#8221;0&#8243; show_author=&#8221;off&#8221; show_categories=&#8221;off&#8221; show_excerpt=&#8221;off&#8221; show_pagination=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_blog][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ADVOCACY NEWS FEDERAL ISSUES STATE ISSUES<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"parent":2140,"menu_order":30,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p><h3>Government & Public Affairs<\/h3><p>iBIO educates policymakers about the value the life sciences industry provides for patients and Illinois\u2019 economy. iBIO develops federal and state priorities based on member company engagement and develops strategies to educate and inform decision-makers as the voice of the industry broadly.<\/p><p>iBIO promotes thoughtful legislative and regulatory solutions that allow our member companies to research, develop, and commercialize breakthrough therapies and cures, and to ensure patients have affordable access to those new treatments. Likewise, iBIO opposes policies that threaten patient access, limit innovation, or adversely impact the Illinois life sciences industry\u2019s competitiveness in the global economy.[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=\"1\/2\"][vc_btn title=\"Contact Your Elected Official\" color=\"primary\" size=\"lg\" align=\"center\" link=\"url:http%3A%2F%2FGovernment%20%26%20Public%20Affairs||target:%20_blank|\" button_block=\"true\"][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=\"1\/2\"][vc_btn title=\"Policy News\" color=\"primary\" size=\"lg\" align=\"center\" button_block=\"true\" link=\"url:https%3A%2F%2Fibio.org%2Fpolicy-news%2F|||\"][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_tta_tabs style=\"modern\" color=\"sky\" active_section=\"1\"][vc_tta_section title=\"Legislative Priorities\" tab_id=\"1549381256643-61474a4a-fd79\"][vc_column_text]<strong>The Value of Innovation<br \/><\/strong>iBIO works closely with our national partners to educate and engage policymakers, payers, providers, patients and all other stakeholders in the ongoing conversation on the value of innovative medicines and therapies.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><strong>Supporting Research<br \/><\/strong>National Institute of Health funding is critical to the Illinois life sciences community. Public investment in the NIH has helped establish the United States as a global leader in medical research and innovation. With over $800 million in 2017, Illinois is one of the top states receiving NIH funding, this funding is critical to our startup ecosystem. Since 2003 funding levels for the NIH have consistently remained flat and faced cuts as a result of sequestration. Taking into account the rising cost of conducting medical research, net NIH funding has actually decreased substantially. We support increased investment in NIH.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><strong>Adequate FDA Funding<\/strong><br \/>By some estimates, the US Food and Drug Administration has regulatory domain over 25% of the US Gross Domestic Product.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Public faith in the FDA\u2019s oversight is critical to development of biological products in medicine, food and agriculture. The FDA needs to be funded at appropriate levels to exercise this oversight and to retain skilled scientists and administrators in the department. iBIO has in the past and will continue to advocate that the federal government support the FDA with a budget adequate to the agency\u2019s needs.<\/p><p><strong>Intellectual Property & Patent Reform<\/strong><br \/>Intellectual property is the lifeblood of the life sciences industry. Strong patents, and an efficient, predictable, and objective patent system, are critical to ensuring a steady stream of capital to life sciences companies developing innovative medicines and other innovative therapies.<\/p><p>iBIO supports the STRONGER Patents Act of 2017 and will continue to advocate for passage of legislation to curb abusive patent practices, while strengthening the ability of patent owners to defend their inventions and businesses against infringement.<\/p><p><strong>Freedom from Trade Barriers<\/strong><br \/>iBIO supports ensuring that export markets remain clear and unobstructed by unreasonable trade barriers.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>This applies to products of biotechnology research, whether they are food products or biotech medical products.<\/p><p><strong>Medicare<\/strong><br \/>iBIO supports protecting Part B and Part D benefits to ensure patients have access to the treatments they need. iBIO supports the continued \u201cnon-interference\u201d policy toward government oversight of Part D pricing and opposes government mandates that would reduce prices without demonstrated cost savings and positive health outcomes.<\/p><p>340B Drug Discount Program<\/p><p>The 340B Drug Discount Program is an important program designed to help uninsured indigent patients gain greater access to prescription medicines. However, exponential growth, significant rates of non-compliance revealed in audits, and a government report of lax oversight underscore the need to modernize this program to ensure it continues to serve patients in need. We support additional review and oversight to ensure the 340B program continues to operate as intended.<\/p><p><strong>Drug Importation<\/strong><br \/>Consistent with the positions asserted by HHS Secretaries under both Democratic and\u00a0Republican administrations, iBIO strongly opposes importation of pharmaceuticals from foreign countries.<\/p><p><strong>Medical Device Tax<\/strong><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><br \/><\/span>iBIO supports the permanent repeal of the 2.3% excise tax on medical devices that was included in the Affordable Care Act. This tax, levied against the revenues from the sale of devices, even in the cases of developing companies not yet profitable, has by various estimates cost the U.S. 30,000-40,000 jobs.<\/p><p><strong>Opioid Epidemic<\/strong><br \/>iBIO is deeply committed to working collectively to prevent the misuse, abuse and diversion of prescription medicines. iBIO supports a balanced approach that ensures appropriate treatment of pain while also addressing this critical public health challenge.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><strong>Drug Pricing & Transparency<\/strong><br \/>iBIO is committed to working with lawmakers, physicians, patients and other healthcare stakeholders to address the affordability of medicines. We believe that any legislative effort to address the affordability of medicines must be patient centered, holistic, and promote patient access to treatments and cures We oppose legislation that ignores the value of innovative therapies for individual patients and the importance of timely access to those treatments, interfere with the market-based ecosystem for the U.S. healthcare sector, and place undue burden on small, pre-commercial life sciences companies.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><strong>Out of Pocket Expenses<\/strong><br \/>iBIO supports policies that ensure patients have access to the treatments they need, including the adoption of caps for out-of-pocket expenses and the continuation of co-pay assistance programs in Illinois.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=\"State Priorities\" tab_id=\"1549381256669-1770862f-42d3\"][vc_column_text]<strong>Promoting an Innovation Based Ecosystem<\/strong><br \/>iBIO believes a strong and consistent commitment by our government partners is critical to maintaining an ecosystem for industry growth in Illinois. When government, industry, and academia work together, our community thrives. iBIO supports state-based policies that support the growth of the life sciences industry and expansion of the infrastructure needed for a robust startup community in Illinois. iBIO does not support, programs, regulations, and tax measures which are considered unusually burdensome by firms located and\/or doing business in Illinois.<\/p><p><strong>R&D Tax Credit<\/strong><br \/>Illinois is one of the most active states for R&D in the nation, ranking eighth in overall R&D, academic R&D, and business R&D. However, despite the state\u2019s high volume of activity, the R&D landscape in Illinois has grown less quickly than in many of its peer states. Illinois has allowed the R&D Tax credit to sunset four times in the past 14 years, limiting the state\u2019s competitiveness compared with many of its peer states.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>iBIO supports the permanent extension of the R&D Tax Credit and updated to 50 percent of three-year average spend.<\/p><p><strong>Increase Access to Capital<\/strong><br \/>Illinois must address the lack of funding for early stage life sciences companies to remain a competitive location for company growth and relocations. With federal funding dollars more difficult to attract, and venture capital investment looking for later-stage deals, seed capital is limited and highly competitive.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>iBIO supports the growth of current successful access to capital programs including the Angel Investment Tax Credit and the Illinois Growth and Innovation Fund. iBIO supports additional state incentive programs like SBIR\/STTR Matching.<\/p><p><strong>Infrastructure<\/strong><br \/>For emerging life sciences startups in Illinois, the availability of quality laboratory space is one of the most crucial components for continued life sciences industry growth, innovation and development, and yet it is Illinois\u2019 scarcest resource. iBIO supports policy and investment to increase the availability of quality laboratory space.<\/p><p><strong>Workforce Development<\/strong><br \/>For the life sciences industry, which stands as the most research and development intensive sector of our economy, the importance of talent is well recognized\u2014and the challenges are particularly acute. Industry, State Government and academia need to work in collaboration to identify skill training and education needs to support the growth of the community. iBIO supports programs and investment for Workforce Development in the Life Sciences Industry.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><strong>Marketing Illinois<\/strong><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><br \/><\/span>Illinois historically has been successful in attracting the establishment of life sciences headquarters and relocations for foreign and domestic companies. iBIO supports investment and marketing programs to raise Illinois profile, including, attracting life sciences international trade conventions to Illinois like the Annual International BIO Convention.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=\"Economic Blueprint\" tab_id=\"1553001794057-9b226b69-f0de\"][vc_column_text]IBIO\u2019s \u201cIllinois LIfe Sciences Economic Blue Print\u201d provides an economic overview of the life sciences community in Illinois, benchmarks Illinois growth with other high growth communities, identifies key areas of improvement for Illinois, and identifies proven best practices in community engagement and economic policy from other key life sciences states. Policy suggestions in the Blue Print focus on four key areas for Illinois: Access to Capital, Infrastructure, Workforce Development, and Marketing.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_tabs][vc_single_image image=\"2266\" alignment=\"center\" onclick=\"custom_link\" img_link_target=\"_blank\" link=\"https:\/\/ibio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/ibio-life-sciences-economic-blueprint.pdf\"][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2743","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ibio.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2743","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ibio.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ibio.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ibio.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ibio.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2743"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/ibio.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2743\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10903,"href":"https:\/\/ibio.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2743\/revisions\/10903"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ibio.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ibio.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}