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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 19

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.

 

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.

 

     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, in order to eradicate Brucella abortus in cattle and domestic bison, a vaccine must be developed that is effective, 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, because Brucella abortus is listed as a select agent 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 by promoting research to develop an effective 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 19 (SJ0019.ENR)
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