Thursday, May 22, 2008

NCBA President-elect Testifies on Capitol Hill in Favor of New National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility: VOOGT

(Gary Voogt (pronounced - VOTE) is a cattle producer from Marne, Michigan and president-elect of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association)

In testimony delivered today before the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) President-elect Gary Voogt emphasized the need for a new diagnostic and research facility to protect American agriculture from foreign animal diseases.

Cut #1: :15 Out cue: "… to national security ."

Voogt, a cattle producer from Marne, Mich., gave the example of the devastating impact that could be felt nationwide from an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. This disease has not been seen in the United States since 1929, but is still a problem in many foreign countries.

Cut #2: :30 Out cue: "… teaching us that lesson."

NCBA feels the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, located off the coast of Long Island, N.Y., has not been adequately funded or maintained for the purposes it is intended to fulfill. Cattlemen support construction of a state-of-the-art foreign animal disease research facility to replace Plum Island, but the organization is not advocating for a specific location.

Cut #3: :29 Out cue: "…should be built."

NCBA supports the construction of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility because this new facility will give USDA and the Department of Homeland Security better tools to study and protect against foreign animal diseases. NCBA's support is contingent upon the ability of USDA to retain its mission of conducting research on all foreign animal diseases and that this facility is properly funded and maintained so it does not fall into poor condition in a manner similar to Plum Island.

Cut #4: :30 Out cue: "… of Homeland Security."