[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 98 (Friday, June 26, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010

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                               speech of

                            HON. JERRY MORAN

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 24, 2009

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2892) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for 
     the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Chair, I come to the House of 
Representatives to encourage my colleagues to support and fund an 
urgent national security priority--the creation of the National Bio and 
Agro-Defense Facility, also known as NBAF.
  From a rancher feeding his cattle this morning in Washington, Kansas, 
to a family sitting down for supper tonight here in Washington, D.C., 
Americans need to know that the United States is prepared to handle an 
outbreak of dangerous animal disease that could harm our country's 
economy and our food supply.
  Our nation's current animal disease research center, located at Plum 
Island, New York, is well over 50 years old and can no longer meet our 
needs. With today's threat of bioterror attack, as well as the threat 
of natural and accidental outbreaks of foreign animal diseases, it is 
clear that more research capacity is needed. NBAF is needed to 
concentrate our efforts to assess disease threats to livestock, 
wildlife and humans, and to develop the vaccines and countermeasures 
against these threats. A modern, safe animal disease research 
laboratory is critical for protecting our country.
  After years of study and a rigorous selection process, in January, 
the Department of Homeland Security unanimously chose to build NBAF at 
Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. DHS found Kansas 
State University to be the best fit for this critical mission. Kansas 
was chosen because of the State's existing biosecurity research 
infrastructure, skilled animal science workforce, strong citizen 
support, and large cost-share contribution. At the time, NBAF was 
expected to be completed by 2015.

  Despite the fact that there has never been stronger need for 
accelerated animal disease research, I am incredibly disappointed that 
NBAF may now be delayed. The President requested $36 million in 2010 
for NBAF design and construction. I have concerns that this investment 
is inadequate for moving forward with this security priority. But as 
the House today considers H.R. 2892, the FY 2010 Department of Homeland 
Security Appropriations Act, it appears that even the President's 
requested funding amount may not be provided. Citing safety concerns 
with researching foot and mouth disease, FMD, on the mainland, the 
spending bill provides no funding for NBAF. In addition, the bill 
requires yet another FMD risk analysis.
  As a Member of Congress who represents a large agricultural district, 
I understand the importance of determining the risks associated with 
conducting FMD research, whether on an island or in the middle of the 
country. What we know is that studies by experts at DHS and elsewhere 
say that FMD can be safely studied on the mainland, as it is done in 
other countries like Canada, just across our northern border. Modern 
biocontainment technology has eliminated the need for locating this 
work on an island, like we did decades ago. The same state-of-the-art 
research methods and facilities allow the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention to research dangerous human diseases in the city of 
Atlanta. While I understand the risk associated with the research of 
any dangerous disease, it should not blind us to the risk of inaction. 
The bottom line is that if we do not build NBAF and increase our 
capacity to combat diseases, our country will be less safe.
  The research that will be performed at NBAF is critical to secure 
America's food supply and protect our agricultural industries from 
animal disease outbreaks. A modern facility that can respond to 
outbreaks is urgently needed and must remain a top priority for the 
U.S. As the appropriations process moves forward, I strongly encourage 
my colleagues in Congress to fund and support NBAF.

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