Agriculture, Rural Development, Food And Drug Administration, And Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2007

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007 -- (Senate - December 05, 2006)

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Mr. DEWINE. Senator Voinovich has stated, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal Plant Health Inspection Service emergency Federal order banning the interstate shipment of several species of fish is having a crippling effect on Ohio's aquaculture industry. While my colleague and I recognize APHIS' attempt to stop the spread of a damaging disease and their readiness to make amendments to the emergency order, many Great Lakes States, such as Ohio, lack sufficient testing programs and facilities to fully comply with the new testing regulation.

It is appropriate to make our Senate colleagues aware of this issue during FY2007 Agriculture appropriations debate, as resources are needed to assist State and Federal agencies to establish additional testing facilities, monitor the spread of VHS throughout the region, and conduct research on the disease. At this time, it is difficult to fully quantify the financial needs of the entire Great Lakes region in light of these new amendments. The aquaculture industry operates on a short time-frame, and our aquaculture producers and sportsmen need assistance, or their livelihoods will be in jeopardy. Mr. President, Senator Voinovich and I are committed to working with APHIS officials and State departments of agriculture and departments of natural resources to provide them with resources to resume commerce responsibly and combat this disease. We are hopeful that FY2007 Agriculture appropriations conference negotiations will provide an opportunity to allocate much-needed funding to Ohio and other Great Lakes States.

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