November 13, 2024

Following the national election last week, several changes to the New Jersey Legislature are worth recognizing.

First, Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D, LD7) — longtime Chair of the Assembly Health Committee — has been elected to assume the seat in Congress that Rep. Andy Kim (D, NJ3) currently occupies following his election to be the next Junior Senator from New Jersey. Asm. Conaway is a physician, lawyer, public health expert and military veteran. Asm. Conaway’s leadership on the Assembly Health Committee has represented uniquely fluent and experienced leadership and perspective regarding the biomedical landscape, and his move to Congress will translate to the need for a new Chair of the Assembly Health committee.

It is also worth noting that Rep. Kim will be the first Korean-American sent to the U.S. Senate in the nation’s history.

Next, State Senator Nellie Pou (D, LD35) will assume the seat formerly occupied by the late Rep. Pascrell (D, NJ9). Sen. Pou serves as the Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee and Vice-Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and has served in the State Legislature since 1997 when she followed then-Assemblyman Bill Pascrell. Sen. Pou will be the first Latina to represent New Jersey in Congress.

While those seats in the State Legislature will need to be filled, there are additional notable electoral outcomes. Perhaps the most closely-watched election was for the State’s 7th Congressional District, where incumbent Rep. Tom Kean Jr. prevailed against his democratic opponent, Sue Altman.

In addition, LaMonica McIver, former Newark Council President, was reelected to serve in the State’s 10th congressional district. Rep. McIver recently won a special election to succeed the late Rep. Donald Payne Jr. who had represented the district for 6 terms. Rep. McIver will begin her first full term after being sworn in.

For a listing and map of the congressional electoral outcomes included in a BioNJ Public Policy Alert sent last week, click here.

The newly-appointed New Jersey Prescription Drug Affordability Council (PDAC) held their inaugural meeting on November 6. While two public members appointed to the Council were not present, the Council discussed perspectives on meeting frequency for 2025 and the expectation that a Chair for the Council will be elected at its next meeting on November 25.

While BioNJ is pleased to see experienced clinicians represented on the Council, we are hopeful that the voices of Patients and life sciences companies are heard by the Council as they begin their deliberations regarding affordability. Please contact Ian McLaughlin, VP of Government Affairs, with any interest in contributing to the public comment period at the Council’s next meeting on November 25 at 10:30AM: IMcLaughlin@BioNJ.org.

For further coverage of the contents of the PDAC’s first meeting and list of its members included in the Public Policy Alert sent last week, click here.

On November 7, BioNJ hosted an online webinar focused on articulating the findings of a first-ever granular assessment of the demographics that characterize participants across clinical trials conducted in New Jersey. The webinar accompanies a white paper that was released previously that conveys all of the findings, as well as the policy recommendations, derived from this exploration of demographic representation across trials.

In addition to identifying opportunities to improve representation across clinical trials in New Jersey, as compared to statistically comparable states, the white paper and webinar explore potential policy opportunities to facilitate equitable access to clinical trials.

BioNJ is grateful to have partnered with Medidata, an ideal partner to explore these questions, on this important initiative devoted to ensuring that every Patient — no matter who they are or where they live — can have the choice to participate in the latest biomedical innovations available.

To read the white paper, click here.

To watch the webinar, click here.

At the end of October, Governor Murphy announced the establishment of a new Economic Council. The new Council will be supported by a newly established Development Coordination Committee. The Council will provide a “regular forum for the business community and State government to discuss, collaborate and solve issues important to the public and private sectors, and stimulate economic growth and prosperity.”

To read a press release and more information from the Governor’s Office, click here.

The Letter, sent to both majority and minority leaders in both chambers of Congress, articulates the importance of the reauthorization of PAHPA. Given that we have recently confronted precisely the kind of public health and national security challenge that this legislation is intended to guard against, BioNJ is glad to sign on to this letter and is hopeful that policymakers will prioritize this legislation that was originally authorized approximately 17 years ago — with the goal of updating the bill’s language to adapt to novel health security threats by strengthening existing programs and hardening health security infrastructure to be sure that the United States is prepared for new and future challenges.

This morning, Sen. Thune of South Dakota was elected to succeed Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky in a closed-door vote. He will assume the role in January upon the beginning of the next Congress when Republicans will have a 53-seat majority. In addition to Sen. Thune, two other Senators had been campaigning to win their colleagues’ support, including Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and Sen. Rick Scott of Florida.

On Monday, it was announced that President-elect Trump selected former Congressman Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

For coverage by The Hill, click here.

BioNJ is the voice of New Jersey’s life sciences sector in Trenton and Washington. BioNJ’s Public Policy Support Series sponsorship opportunities are now available for 2024. Help ensure BioNJ continues to deliver our message of improved Patient access and enhanced innovation through a Public Policy Support Series Sponsorship.  

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