News Releases
Sen. Moran Praises Final NBAF Funding Included in New House FY 2015 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill
Jan 09 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, has announced that the Fiscal Year 2015 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill released today by the House Appropriations Committee includes $300 million for construction of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF). This amount is equal to the funding passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee last year and builds on the $404 million appropriated for the construction of NBAF in the FY2014 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. The final passage of this funding will be a critical step forward for the construction of the main NBAF facility in Manhattan, Kan.
“As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am committed to making certain NBAF remains a top priority,” Sen. Moran said. “This $300 million investment mirrors the funding passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee last year and solidifies Washington’s support for the construction of a modern, world-class facility in Manhattan, Kansas, which will protect Americans against biological threats. I am hopeful this final funding will soon be passed by both Houses of Congress and ultimately help create jobs for Kansans in the fields of engineering, science and technology. The talented young men and women who grow up here will have more opportunities to work and live in Kansas, which is poised to become a research epicenter.”
Passage of the FY2015 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill was stalled at the end of 2014 with President Obama’s announcement of an Executive Order granting amnesty to millions of individuals who have entered the country illegally. As a result, Congress passed a Continuing Resolution funding the Department of Homeland Security at FY2014 levels through February 27, 2015. The House Appropriations Committee Fiscal Year 2015 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill released today must pass the U.S. House of Representatives and would then be considered by the U.S. Senate to fund the remainder of FY2015..
NBAF, a state-of-the-art biosecurity lab, is to be built adjacent to Kansas State University. A January 2012 economic impact report found the NBAF will employ approximately 326 permanent employees and support some 757 construction jobs. The state of Kansas showed its commitment to this project by contributing $202 million. The facility is expected to have a $3.5 billion economic impact on Kansas in the first 20 years alone.
In addition to creating an economic boom for Kansas, NBAF will protect our national economy by researching foreign animal disease threats, which are very real with devastating impacts. The cost of an outbreak far outweighs the NBAF construction cost, not only in the loss of human life but also its damage to the animal and agricultural industry.
The main laboratory will boast safety and security features recommended by the National Academies of Sciences. It will include specialized air and water decontamination systems, new technologies for handling solid waste onsite, and structural components to strengthen the laboratory against hazardous weather conditions. A funding commitment was also made to provide infrastructure repairs at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center to guarantee a smooth transition of research
The main laboratory will boast safety and security features recommended by the National Academies of Sciences. It will include specialized air and water decontamination systems, new technologies for handling solid waste onsite, and structural components to strengthen the laboratory against hazardous weather conditions. A funding commitment was also made to provide infrastructure repairs at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center to guarantee a smooth transition of research from Plum Island, N.Y., to Manhattan, Kan.
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