Panel to pave way for massive bio-defense facility
Bill would allow DHS to enter into a contract and begin construction on a state-of-the-art research center.
The House Homeland Security Committee plans to mark up a bill quickly after next week's recess to authorize a massive new bio-defense facility, paving the way for a high-stakes competition that some believe will bring billions of dollars in jobs and commerce to the winning congressional districts.
At least five lawmakers on the committee, including its chairman, represent districts that stand to benefit if the facility is built in or near them, according to an analysis by CongressDaily.
The authorization bill will give the Homeland Security Department authority to enter into a contract and begin construction on the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, a state-of-the-art center for researching and protecting against biological threats to humans and animals.
The department is evaluating 18 sites in 11 states, from California to North Carolina. Consortiums comprising local governments, private companies and universities have organized to bid for the contract, which is estimated to be worth nearly $500 million.
The competition is heating up, as the department plans to narrow the list of potential sites this summer and award a contract to one site in October.
The new center is expected to be one of the government's premier research labs for the next 50 years, bringing billions in jobs and commerce to congressional districts around it. Some community organizations near potential sites have protested, however, saying they fear the facility will be too dangerous.
House Homeland Security Emerging Threats Subcommittee ranking member Michael McCaul, R-Texas, is leading the charge to write the authorization bill.
"I anticipate this should move rather quickly through the Congress," McCaul said, adding that he expects the committee to do a markup soon after the Memorial Day recess.
The edge of McCaul's district is about 20 miles from Texas A&M University, a contender for the new center.
McCaul said he does not believe he has a conflict of interest in writing an authorization bill for the center while his district would benefit if the contract went to Texas A&M. "Of course I'd love to see Texas A&M selected," he said. "But the fact of the matter is, we are staying out of the selection process."
Another competing entity is the Gulf States Bio and Agro-Defense Consortium in Mississippi, which operates a site north of Jackson, Miss., on the fringe of the district represented by Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss.
Thompson could not be reached for comment Wednesday. But when the Homeland Security Department announced last August that the Gulf States Consortium was in the running, Thompson gushed with optimism.
"Today, we moved one step closer to securing a major homeland security asset for our state and nation," Thompson said in a statement. "With the collective participation of the entire metro-Jackson community, we now have a real opportunity to showcase our best and brightest.
"As this process moves forward, Mississippi's application will be strengthened by the contributions of a diverse cross-section of participants at every level. I look forward to working with our congressional delegation and state officials to make that happen."
Two other lawmakers on the Homeland Security Committee also represent districts near potential sites.
The Texas Biological and Agro-Defense Consortium is in the competition with three sites around San Antonio, Texas, on the fringe of the districts represented by Reps. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, and Henry Cuellar, D-Texas.
And the North Carolina Consortium has a site just outside the district of Rep. Bob Etheridge, D-N.C.