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State Representative Kim Norton
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9249
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
Press/News Releases
REP. KIM NORTON AUTHORS LEGISLATION THAT WILL BOOST MAYO CLINIC GENOMICS GRANT
ST. PAUL – Rep. Kim Norton has acted quickly in these first weeks of session to bring results back to Rochester. On Thursday Norton introduced legislation she chief-authored as Vice Chair of the Biosciences and Emerging Technologies Committee to increase funding for the University of Minnesota & Mayo Clinic's Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics. In existence since 2003, the Partnership has paired two of the state's leading medical research institutions in the attempt to make new scientific advancements, find innovative ways to improve health care, and provide significant benefits for Minnesota's economy.
"This funding will provide additional resources to a program that has already yielded positive results in the field of science and for the well-being of our state," said Norton. "It will keep Minnesota on the leading edge of bioscience research, discovery, and innovation."
Thus far the Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics has made important advances in the fight against Alzheimer's, prostate cancer, and heart disease. With the additional funding that Rep. Kim Norton has proposed, even more can be done in Minnesota in the fight against these and many other diseases that have and continue to afflict not only Minnesotans, but people around the world.
Not only does the Partnership stimulate the creation of new technologies and much-needed improvement in health care, but it also has the potential to create new jobs for Minnesotans and additional revenue for the state itself. Therefore, the economic impact of increased investment in this program is a good choice for our state. For the program's history of success and potential positive impact for state and local economies, Rep. Norton felt that it was imperative to act quickly on this important legislation.
"To ensure that the Partnership is afforded the opportunity to expand the scope of its impact on the fields of medicine and bioscience, and effectively provide positive results for our state, the time to re-invest in this important program is now," said Norton.
For Norton, the scientific results of the program and the efforts of its leaders to inform people around the state about its impact on the economy speak for themselves. The Partnership has done more than just create new innovations in medical science. Rather it has taken a proactive approach in making a positive impact on the Minnesota economy by partnering with the BioBusiness Alliance to spread the word across the state about the positive impacts its research has and will continue to have on our economy.
Norton's bill must now undergo the full legislative process and will be heard in committee next week. However, with widespread support throughout the legislature to address health care in the state, the Governor's support, and the Partnership's history of success in science and economic development, this bill has a good chance this session.
"I will continue to work hard to make sure this bill passes," said Norton. "Reinvesting in this important program is good for science, good for our state, and good for Rochester."
News Items
- Rep. Norton Selected as Vice Chair of House Health and Human Services Finance Committee - (Posted: 2012-12-14 00:00:00)
- It’s Time for Legislature to Get Back to Basics, Balance the Budget Honestly - (Posted: 2012-12-11 00:00:00)
- Second Saturday Coffee Meeting Date Changed to December 9 - (Posted: 2012-12-03 00:00:00)
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