Today, United States Congressman Henry Cuellar praised the decision of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to selecting a site in San Antonio as one of the five nationwide finalists for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF). The Texas Research Park in northwest San Antonio is a possible site to host the 520,000-acre facility and Congressman Cuellar has been strongly supportive of the effort to bring NBAF to South Texas. Sites in four other states are also vying for the facility.

The proposed facility will provide animal testing capabilities needed for the licensure of human disease vaccines, defend against high-consequence human and foreign animal diseases in livestock, and provide the essential DHS infrastructure requirements for threat characterization, forensics and detection.

“As Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response and as a member of the Agriculture Committee, I am extremely pleased that the Department of Homeland Security is considering the City of San Antonio as a possible site,” said Congressman Cuellar. “Preventing bioterrorism attacks against the U.S. agriculture through the introduction of animal diseases is very important to me. I will continue to do everything possible to bring this important facility to South Texas.”

The DHS is currently working with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to identify several diseases to the U.S. animal industry that will be studied at the facility. These diseases include, but are not limited to, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Classical Swine Fever (CSF), African Swine Fever (ASF), Rift Valley Fever (RVF), Nipah and Hendra Viruses, Contagious Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), and Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus. The research conducted at NBAF will focus on developing tests to detect the diseases and countermeasures to prevent them.

The final site selection will be completed by October 2008, with construction starting in 2010. The new facility is expected to be in operation by 2013-2014. Once fully operational, the testing facility will be home to about 250-300 jobs, including researchers, technical support staff, and operations specialists.

“This is a very positive step for both San Antonio and the nation. This new facility will meet the research needs of the nation, and if the San Antonio site is selected, the local economy will also benefit,” Congressman Cuellar said. “With the elite group of researchers we currently have in Texas, it makes sense that this facility comes to San Antonio.”

The new facility will replace the current aging NBAF facility at Plum Island, NY, which is over 50 years old.

Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the House Homeland Security, Small Business, and Agriculture Committees in the 110th Congress; accessibility to constituents, education, health care, economic development and national security are his priorities. Congressman Cuellar is also a Senior Whip.
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