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U.S. House approves $58 million for animal disease center in Ames
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)--The final $58.8 million in federal funding to complete modernization at a federal government animal disease laboratory in Ames has passed through the House Agriculture Appropriations Committee.
Rep. Tom Latham said May 17 that the inclusion of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Animal Disease Center in the 2006 agriculture budget is an important first step to completing the modernization project, which will cost the federal government $406 million.
The compound on the east edge of Ames tests for animal illnesses such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, anthrax and rabies.
The funding must also get through the House Appropriations Committee, the full House and make it through the Senate process before it gets final approval.
"We will continue to move forward with the process of securing this final funding with great anticipation of providing an advanced facility dedicated to the protection of America's agricultural economy and consumers," Latham said in a statement.
Extensive work has already begun on the project which will place the facility on the front line in America's defense against animal diseases, and meet national needs for animal health research, diagnosis and product evaluation.
The $58.8 million in the bill was included in President Bush's 2006 budget request.
"This is a priority of the Administration, this is a priority of mine," noted Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns during testimony regarding the NADC before the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee earlier this year. "They do very, very good work there and we are committed to seeing the project to the finish line."
The project could have received full funding last year, but the Senate approved about $56 million less than Bush requested and the House approved.
Date: 5/25/05
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