US House restores food safety lab funding

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed an amendment restoring funding to the National Animal Health Laboratory Network after it was cut from the 2012 Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative.
After the entirety of the network's $4.4 million funding was eliminated, the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians and other organizations worked to draft and propose an amendment. "In the event of an emergency, the NAHLN can mobilize its network to test large numbers of samples rapidly, process diagnostic tests and share information," said Dr. Marguerite Pappaioanou, the AAVMC's executive director. "We applaud the House...for realizing the critical role NAHLN plays in protecting our nation's food supply."
The AAVMC has said that will now work collaboratively with its partners to ensure the Senate retains this funding as they consider fiscal year 2012 appropriations for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.