West Central Tribune
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WASHINGTON — A $1 million appropriation to address avian flu by expanding the testing capacity of the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Willmar has been approved in the Senate, and will now go to the House of Representatives for a vote, U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith announced Tuesday.
“Preventing avian flu is critically important for farmers in Minnesota and for the stability of the food supply in our whole country,” Klobuchar, D-Minn., said in the announcement. The funding will improve the ability to stop the spread of avian flu and other diseases, she added.
Smith, D-Minn., said she hears from farmers all the time about the financial stress that avian flu outbreaks put on farm families and the economy.
“Animal disease outbreaks can unnecessarily disrupt trade and hurt our exporting ability,” Smith said in the news release. “This funding would make a huge difference in our ability to stop avian flu in its tracks and protect our farmers and animals."
If approved in the House, the funding would be used to purchase testing devices for avian flu and other diseases, enabling faster test results and reduced wait times, while also upgrading the data and results management system.
This funding was included in the Senate appropriations bill for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and related agencies. For these funds to be delivered, the project will still need to be included in the final appropriations bill passed by the House and signed into law.
Klobuchar and Smith have been actively involved in securing this federal funding for projects benefiting communities across the state through a process called “congressionally directed spending,” according to the news release. During that process, they have considered project proposals and advocated for funding in close coordination with leaders from across the state.