Senate panel approves $1 million to fight brucellosis

Tester, Baucus included funding for two Montana projects

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The Senate Appropriations Committee has agreed to set aside $1 million in federal funding to work on brucellosis prevention and vaccine research efforts.

The funding is part of over $7,472,000 headed to Montana from the Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill passed by Senator Jon Tester and his colleagues on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The bill now goes to the full Senate for approval.  It must then be approved by the U.S. House of Representatives and signed into law by the President.

The Montana Department of Livestock's Brucellosis Management for Montana's Greater Yellowstone Area project will receive $650,000 to conduct brucellosis prevention and implement brucellosis herd management plans.

Montana State University will receive $305,000 to continue to work on developing an effective vaccine against brucellosis.

“Brucellosis funding in the greater Yellowstone area is vital as we work on the control and eventual eradication of this disease,” said Christian Mackay, Executive Officer for the Montana Board of Livestock. “We welcome these resources. They help fund our ongoing efforts, and demonstrate that Congress wants to be part of the solution.”

“Montana's ranchers are facing a tough time with brucellosis," Tester said. " This funding will help with herd management plans and the development of a vaccine. This research will help ensure that ranching in Montana stays an option for future generations."
 
“These two projects will really make a difference for Montana's ranching families,” Baucus said.  “We need to do everything we can to get this disease under control and this federal funding will help do just that.”