Senate Resolution 122 - Introduced PAG LIN 1 1 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1 2 BY JOHNSON and FRAISE 1 3 A Resolution supporting the proposal of Iowa State 1 4 University to pursue the location of the national 1 5 bio and agro=defense facility at the site of the 1 6 current National Center for Animal Health in Ames, 1 7 Iowa. 1 8 WHEREAS, the security of Iowa and the United States 1 9 depends on an integrated national bio and agro=defense 1 10 strategy; and 1 11 WHEREAS, the federal Department of Homeland 1 12 Security has determined an urgent need exists for a 1 13 new integrated research infrastructure to provide 1 14 research, development, testing, and evaluation that 1 15 will enhance agricultural and public health; and 1 16 WHEREAS, the Department of Homeland Security has 1 17 proposed construction of a national bio and agro= 1 18 defense facility which will be an integrated human, 1 19 foreign animal, and zoonotic disease research and 1 20 testing facility to support the complementary missions 1 21 of the Department of Homeland Security, the United 1 22 States Department of Health and Human Services, and 1 23 the United States Department of Agriculture; and 1 24 WHEREAS, the state of Iowa is a leading state in 1 25 livestock production, a multibillion dollar industry 1 26 of critical importance to the state's economy; and 1 27 WHEREAS, the state of Iowa is already the location 1 28 of several research assets of great importance to this 1 29 new national effort, including the National Center for 1 30 Animal Health, the National Animal Disease Center, the 2 1 National Veterinary Services Laboratory, the Center 2 2 for Veterinary Biologics, Iowa State University 2 3 College of Agriculture, Iowa State University College 2 4 of Veterinary Medicine, the University of Iowa College 2 5 of Medicine, the University of Iowa College of Public 2 6 Health, the Iowa Hygienic Laboratory, and University 2 7 of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; and 2 8 WHEREAS, these assets include state=of=the=art 2 9 facilities and laboratories which could greatly 2 10 enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of a national 2 11 bio and agro=defense facility; and 2 12 WHEREAS, the current site of the National Center 2 13 for Animal Health in Ames, Iowa, is undergoing a $460 2 14 million remodernization and has a large number of 2 15 scientists and support staff for potential 2 16 collaborations, making the Ames location an ideal 2 17 choice for effective and efficient implementation of 2 18 an integrated bio and agro=defense facility; and 2 19 WHEREAS, Iowa State University of Science and 2 20 Technology intends to submit a proposal to the 2 21 Department of Homeland Security for the construction 2 22 and operation of the national bio and agro=defense 2 23 facility in Ames; and 2 24 WHEREAS, the Iowa State University proposal will 2 25 consist of a consortium of academic institutions and 2 26 industry, commodity, and professional organizations 2 27 from across the nation that brings together the 2 28 necessary research and development expertise to 2 29 address these high=consequence human, foreign animal, 2 30 and zoonotic pathogens; NOW THEREFORE, 3 1 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate 3 2 supports the proposal of Iowa State University to 3 3 pursue the location of the national bio and agro= 3 4 defense facility at the site of the current National 3 5 Center for Animal Health in Ames. 3 6 LSB 6540SS 81 3 7 jr:nh/je/5 1