House Authorizes Biodefense Laboratory

The U.S. House of Representatives last week approved an authorization bill for the Homeland Security Department that includes funding for the $451 million National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, May 3).

Lawmakers on Wednesday voted 296-196 in favor of the $39.8 billion bill.  The Senate has not yet taken up its version of the funding legislation.

California, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin are all competing for the facility.  Kentucky and Tennessee are combining their efforts to bring the laboratory to Kentucky.

The new site would replace the Plum Island Animal Disease Center in New York.  It would conduct research on potential disease and food supply threats, including biological agents that could be used by terrorists.

The House legislation also mandates a study by the Homeland Security and Health and Human Services departments regarding training levels for personnel at Biosafety Level 3 and 4 laboratories, AP reported.  Those facilities have the highest levels of biocontainment and work with the most dangerous pathogens.

The proliferation of such facilities worldwide could be outstripping training levels for their personnel, the Center for Biosecurity at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center said in a report last month.

There are also questions regarding whether sufficient biosafety and biosecurity measures are being taken, operational transparency at the facilities, and the necessity for a rapid increase in the number of laboratories, according to the center (Associated Press/Bryan-College Station Eagle, May 11).

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