Kansas Approves More NBAF Money January 7, 2015

(AP) – A state panel consisting of the Kansas governor and legislative leaders has authorized an additional $231 million in bonds to help pay for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility under construction near Manhattan.
The State Finance Council’s authorization Tuesday is contingent on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security agreeing that Kansas won’t be asked to pay any more for the estimated $1.15 billion facility. Kansas lawmakers initially authorized $105 million in bonds when the state was awarded the project in 2009.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports the Finance Council in November balked at authorizing additional bonds until Congress appropriated money to fund its share of the project.
Congress approved funding for Homeland Security in December that includes $400 million for the remaining federal share of the NBAF project

Manhattan’s NBAF Project Gets More Money June 24, 2014

The plan for a state-of-the-art biological defense lab at K-State good good news today.
The project got the full 300-million it was seeking from the Senate Appropriations Committee.
It’s also been approved by a House Committee.
So the project, the National Bio and Agro- Defense Facility, known as “N-BAF”, appears to be in good shape to be fully funded by Washington

Hueslskamp Questions Jenkin’ Vote on NBAF Money December 17, 2013

(AP) – Congressman Tim Huelskamp is challenging a statement by a fellow Kansan in the U.S. House that funding for a new bioscience lab is secure under a new budget agreement.

The Topeka Capital Journal reports Huelskamp is questioning comments last week by fellow Republican Lynn Jenkins about why she voted for the bipartisan measure.

Huelskamp says the bill does nothing to secure money for construction of the $1.25 billion National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan. Huelskamp voted against the budget deal.

Jenkins issued a statement when the bill passed the House suggesting the money was moving forward in the process. A Jenkins spokeswoman told The Capital-Journal the statement was meant to convey that any funding for NBAF would be at stake if the budget deal stalled.

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 to Debate NBAF Money Tuesday May 14, 2013

(AP) – The Kansas Senate plans to debate Gov. Sam Brownback’s proposal to authorize an additional $202 million for a new, national biodefense lab.

Brownback has said the measure on Tuesday’s agenda in the Senate will fulfill the state’s commitment to fund part of the cost of the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility at Kansas State University.

The new lab would research dangerous animal diseases and replacing an aging facility on Plum Island, N.Y. But its projected cost has more than doubled to $1.15 billion since Kansas landed the project in 2009.

Kansas already has authorized $105 million in bonds for the lab, but President Barack Obama’s latest budget proposal includes $714 million for the project.

State officials pursued the project because it promises more than 300 high-paying jobs.