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TSCRA Daily News Update, May 23, 2008
NCBA
testifies for new national bio and agro-defense facility Intestimony delivered today before the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, NCBA President-elect Gary Voogt emphasized the importance of foreign animal disease research and the need for a new diagnostic and research facility to protect American agriculture from foreign animal diseases. Voogt, a cattle producer from Marne, Mich., addressed committee members about the devastating impact that could be felt nationwide as a result of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. "It's the most contagious animal disease known. An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the United States could devastate the cattle industry," Voogt said. "The direct cost would be between $10 billion and $34 billion. The indirect cost could be even more serious." NCBA feels the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, located off the coast of Long Island, N.Y., has not been adequately funded or maintained for the purposes it is intended to fulfill. Cattlemen support construction of a state-of-the-art foreign animal disease research facility to replace Plum Island, but the organization is not advocating for a specific location. "We believe modern bio-containment technology is adequate to protect our industry and to allow for safe research and diagnostics regardless of location," said Voogt. NCBA supports the construction of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility because this new facility will give USDA and the Department of Homeland Security better tools to study and protect against foreign animal diseases. NCBA's support is contingent upon the ability of USDA to retain its mission of conducting research on all foreign animal diseases. It is also contingent upon seeing a commitment from Congress and the Administration to ensure this facility is properly funded and maintained, so this facility does not fall into poor condition in a manner similar to Plum Island. "We need a commitment from Congress and the Administration that this new facility will be properly funded and maintained for the long haul," Voogt said.
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