Kansas Officials Press Feds For Biosecurity Lab

Associated Press - Fri 07:51 PM 06/15/2012

Kansas Senators Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran sent a letter Friday to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, demanding she
release $90 million already approved for the National Bio- and
Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan.

Kansas Senators Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran sent a letter Friday to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, demanding she release $90 million already approved for the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan.

Kansas officials are pressing the federal government to move ahead with construction of a new biosecurity lab near Kansas State University.

They're doing so even though a report Friday from the National Research Council said there's still no good assessment of how safely it would operate. The $1.14 billion lab would research deadly animal diseases.

Kansas Sens. Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran sent a letter Friday to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, demanding she release $90 million already approved for the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback joined them, as did Missouri Sens. Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill.

The new report said Homeland Security's assessment of the lab's safety was flawed in predicting little risk of an accidental release of a dangerous disease.

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spiderrk

Friday 15 June 2012 19:56 Report this comment

"demanding she release $90 million"?! Obviously their pockets are being lined as well! Let Homeland Security keep their $90 million and keep Kansas safe! We don't want this!

localyokel

Friday 15 June 2012 21:24 Report this comment

Let DHS keep "their" $90 million? That's our $90 million. Or, more accurately, China's $90 million that we, our children and grandchildren will be paying interest on for eternity. "We" don't want this? I want it. I'm a Kansan. I want bio tech jobs in our state. I want research jobs in our state. I want fewer of our college grads leaving our state to live elsewhere where there's more opportunity for advancement. I want advancement opportunities here.

Iamgonnagetu

Friday 15 June 2012 21:58 Report this comment

Localyokel you are so full of s*%t. What would you tell the families of all the dead if there ever is a problem? Or what would you do if Kansas became a waste area because of a failure. Look at the nuke plant in Japan and the area surrounding it. That was not to happen either. Let's contact these senators and demand they drop this immediately.

ShadowCipher

Saturday 16 June 2012 06:15 Report this comment

I am leery about having a bio lab around. If the safety precautions are above and beyond, and the security is top-notch, I am all for it. If either one of those aspects are in question, I might not be on board with it. Simply put, I've been preaching we need more college education type employment in Kansas, and I feel this is a positive step forward.

t-bone

Saturday 16 June 2012 07:09 Report this comment

well since it's been talked about over and over, i'd bet eveery terrorist in america know of a good place to blow up right in the middle of the u.s. also i'd bet pat and jerry are spending time together on their tax payede vacation home. lowlife bathturds!

jimdingo

Saturday 16 June 2012 11:32 Report this comment

Leave the Frankenstein/disease for animal disease offshore. There is a LOT of food raised out here. I don't trust government "responsibility" since the lame reasons for going to war in Iraq.

t-bone

Saturday 16 June 2012 16:31 Report this comment

damn i hate it when i get political

buckstay

Saturday 16 June 2012 17:46 Report this comment

Why is something that should be confidential being brought out with publicity when people actually don't know what this really is?

Iamgonnagetu

Sunday 17 June 2012 10:27 Report this comment

Those wanting to get this moved here do not want anyone in Kansas to know anything. They want to push it through to get the money. One problem if it is built could cost 5 times in money and many lives. Where will these politicians be then?