Source:  Dani Friedland, MEATINGPLACE, 6/17/11

The U.S. House of Representatives Thursday passed an amendment to restore funding to the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN).

Rep. Cory Gardner (R.-Colo.) offered the amendment after the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee proposed eliminating funding for the NAHLN.

“I want to make sure that we are not imperiling the U.S. livestock industry, especially when it comes to our livestock exports,” Gardner said on the House floor. “If we were to delay even just 3 to 4 days in terms of finding or responding to an outbreak of FMD, it could cost our country $135 billion in agriculture and possibly destroy our export markets.”
 

“In the event of an emergency, NAHLN can mobilize its network to test large numbers of samples rapidly, process diagnostic tests, and share information,”  Marguerite Pappaioanou, executive director of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, said in a statement.

The AAVMC intends to work with its partners to ensure the Senate keeps the funding in place.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.