Speaker Detail

Fred Upton is a congressman representing southwest Michigan and its life sciences corridor, which is home to a major research university and leading medical products manufacturers. Upton, a Republican, is chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. An advocate of policies that support job creation, economic growth and American innovation, particularly in the life sciences, he has long pushed for critical investments in biomedical research and was a leader in crafting legislation that reauthorized the National Institutes of Health in the 1990s. As chairman, Upton has championed the reauthorization of FDA user fee programs for prescription drugs and medical devices, helping U.S. manufacturers better compete and bring their life-saving products to patients faster. His bill also supports generic drugs and biosimilars, aims to prevent drug shortages and promotes treatment options for children with rare diseases. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan.