Additional Bill Links PDF (with line numbers)
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 11
INTRODUCED BY M. PHILLIPS
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA REQUESTING THAT THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION RECONSIDER THE APPROPRIATENESS OF LISTING BRUCELLA ABORTUS AS A BIOTERRORIST AGENT TO FACILITATE RESEARCH INTO THE TRANSMISSION OF THE PATHOGEN TO CATTLE, AND DOMESTIC BISON, AND WILDLIFE.
WHEREAS, Brucella abortus is listed as a potential bioterrorist agent or "select agent" by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and
WHEREAS, while other strains of Brucella are highly pathogenic, Brucella abortus rarely infects humans and is easily treated; and
WHEREAS, Yellowstone National Park harbors a reservoir of the Brucella abortus pathogen in elk and bison, and as long as this reservoir exists, final eradication of brucellosis is impossible in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming because elk and bison can continually reinfect the region's cattle and domestic bison each time the disease is controlled; and
WHEREAS, in order to eradicate Brucella abortus in Yellowstone National Park AND THE SURROUNDING AREA, a vaccine must be developed that is effective for cattle and domestic bison, but because research on select agents is highly regulated and requires costly investments in secure infrastructure, the number of facilities that are able to perform research on the pathogen in large animals has been greatly reduced; and
WHEREAS, although the Brucella abortus pathogen is prevalent and highly problematic outside laboratory doors, because of the select agent listing it cannot be brought inside for the studies that could lead to an effective vaccine, which is an absurd situation for veterinary research facilities in the region.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
That the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
(1) reconsider the appropriateness of listing Brucella abortus as a select agent;
(2) focus bioterrorism regulations on the Brucella pathogens that pose the greatest risk to humans; and
(3) facilitate research into the transmission of the pathogen to cattle, and domestic bison, AND WILDLIFE by promoting research to develop an efficacious vaccine and delivery system.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State send a copy of this resolution to the directors of the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to the Montana Congressional Delegation.
- END -
Latest Version of SJ
11 (SJ0011.02)
Processed for the Web on February 20, 2015 (2:17pm)
New language in a bill appears underlined, deleted material appears stricken.
Sponsor names are handwritten on introduced bills, hence do not appear on the bill until it is reprinted.
See the status of this bill for the bill's primary sponsor.
Status of this
Bill | 2015
Legislature | Leg. Branch Home
All versions of this bill
(PDF format)
Authorized print version of this bill
w/line numbers (PDF format)
[ NEW
SEARCH ]
Prepared by Montana
Legislative Services
(406) 444-3064