JENKINS DEFENDS NBAF ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) spoke before the U.S. House of Representatives today in opposition to an amendment by Congressman Tim Bishop (D-NY) to prohibit funding for the new National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) to be located in Manhattan, Kansas.  Click here to watch the video and below is text of Congresswoman Jenkins’ remarks:

“‘In 2009, after an exhaustive three year review the Department of Homeland Security chose Manhattan, Kansas as the site for the new National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility.  NBAF will be a cutting edge research facility that will  accelerate our Nation’s ability to protect ourselves, our food supply and our economy from biological threats, it will become the world’s premier animal health research facility and further solidify our nation’s place as the international leader in animal health research.”

“NBAF has the support of both the Bush and Obama administration.  In fact, this week President Obama included $150 million in his budget to begin its construction.  This inclusion shows a commitment from the President and Secretary Napolitano to see that this cutting edge facility moves forward as planned so we can safely conduct critical research to develop vaccines and countermeasures in order to protect the public and our livestock from the threats of devastating diseases.”  

“Simply put, this debate should be about our national security, not local politics.  In this age of uncertainty and global threats, conducting vital research to protect our nation could not be more crucial.  And the truth of the matter is we are dangerously under protected from the threat of a biological attack against our people and our food.  In fact, the bipartisan Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism recently issued a report card that gave the federal government a failing grade for efforts to prevent a biological attack.”

“We need to protect our food and our families from a biological attack.  We need to stay on the cutting edge of this research field.  Our security is at risk and delaying this project further because the gentleman from New York would prefer to preserve a stunningly outdated lab that just so happens to be in his district, is not an option. We need to move forward. We need NBAF.   I urge my colleagues to vote against this destructive amendment.”

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