July 9, 2009 |
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USCA Lauds House Action to Block Funding for NBAF |
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| USCA (July 9, 2009) - An appropriations bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, June 24 stripped $36 million sought by the Department of Homeland Security for the first phase of construction of a National Bio and Agro Defense Facility on the mainland. The facility, to be constructed in Manhattan, KS, is intended to replace the Plum Island Disease Center off the coast of New York State.
"The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) has been extremely concerned about any possibility of introducing infectious disease into the continental United States. An event like this would be catastrophic to the livestock industry," commented Jon Wooster, President. "The health and environmental risks associated with moving this research laboratory to America’s heartland present a serious and unnecessary threat to U.S. agriculture." Construction of the new laboratory has been estimated to cost $450 million and the facility will take five years to build. Construction is planned to commence in 2010. Diseases to be studied at the facility include the highly infectious foot and mouth disease. An economic study, conducted by Kansas State University, of a potential outbreak of foot and mouth disease on the mainland United States showed billions of dollars of economic harm to the domestic livestock industry. The House appropriations bill provides $5 million for a study on the risks of researching foot and mouth disease on the mainland. "Livestock commerce would be paralyzed if an outbreak occurred," said Wooster. "As a result, markets would plummet and cattle producers throughout the country would suffer irrevocable harm." Wooster continued, "The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association has made this issue a focal point on Capitol Hill and we’ve worked diligently with legislators asking that they reconsider construction of a new research facility in the continental U.S. We thank the House of Representatives for taking this step to protect U.S. cattle producers." The Senate version of the appropriations measure includes funding for the new laboratory. Whether or not the Department of Homeland Security can move ahead with construction as planned will depend on the final appropriations bill after the House and Senate versions have completed the conference process. "I urge cattle producers to contact their U.S. Senators and encourage them to take a strong position to oppose funding the new National Bio and Agro Defense Facility," noted Wooster. "This is no time to be complacent about the threats this facility, in its planned location, would present to our industry." |
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