Tagged: bio-security lab

On Thursday, The House Appropriations Committee approved an amended version of Governor Brownback's proposal to issue more bonds for a federal lab.

Earlier, they'd delayed a decision on whether to approve an extra $200 million for the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility to be built in Manhattan, KS.

Some state lawmakers like Mark Hutton of Wichita, believe the deal between the federal and state government wasn't clearly defined.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee approved a bill Wednesday that authorizes an additional $202 million in bonds for a national bio-defense lab, but only after adding limits designed to address concerns by conservative Republicans.

Kansas has authorized $105 million in bonds for the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility at Kansas State University. Gov. Brownback and his aides have noted that in 2009,l  Kansas agreed  to pick up part of the cost as it and multiple states competed for the project.

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

A study released by the National Research Council 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.