NBAF Money Clears Senate Funding Panel July 19, 2013

(AP) – A U.S. Senate committee has endorsed spending $404 million in the next fiscal year to construct a new federal research lab at Kansas State University.

The action Thursday by the Senate Appropriations Committee sends the spending request for the National Bio- and Agro-defense Facility to the full Senate for passage. The House has already approved $404 million for the project, part of the Department of Homeland Security’s budget for 2014.

Kansas Sens. Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran, both Republicans, announced Thursday’s development on the funding.

The $1.25 billion lab will research deadly animal and livestock diseases, replacing an aging facility at Plum Island, N.Y. The state of Kansas is matching the federal funding by authorizing $305 million in bonds, as well as $35 million from the Kansas Bioscience Authority.

Kansas Senate moves on NBAF Money May 8, 2013

(AP) – A Kansas Senate committee has approved a bill authorizing an additional $202 million in bonds for a national biodefense lab after adding limits designed to address some conservative Republicans’ concerns.

The Ways and Means Committee’s voice vote Wednesday sends the measure to the full Senate for debate, possibly as early as Friday.

Kansas has authorized $105 million in bonds for the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility at Kansas State University. Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has said the new bonds are necessary to fulfill the state’s promise to cover part of the construction costs.

The $1.2 billion facility will research dangerous animal diseases.

Some conservative GOP senators questioned authorizing new bonds. The bill says they can’t be issued until the federal government signs a contract with a construction contractor.

K-State’s NBAF Facility Survives Review, But Scale Back Likely July 13, 2012

(AP) – A government-backed research panel says the Department of Homeland Security should continue with its plans for a biosecurity lab in Kansas but consider ways to reduce costs.

A study released by National Research Council on Friday says the need for the $1.14 billion National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan hasn’t diminished since the project was first conceived.

But the council says Homeland Security has options: It could continue with the current plan, reduce the size and scope of the project and distribute its work among research centers around the country.

Homeland Security asked the council to review the risks of studying animal diseases at the lab, the capabilities needed to address those threats and analyze three options. One included keeping the current research at Plum Island, N.Y.