Sebelius forms task force to bring federal lab to Kansas
National Bio- and Agro-defense Facility would have economic, security impact

Kansas has the potential to be a world leader in bioscience research thanks to its existing assets, Governor Kathleen Sebelius says, and those assets that will be a key part of the state’s bid for a planned federal laboratory.

Sebelius today issued an executive order forming the Kansas National Bio- and Agro-defense Facility Task Force, which will lead the effort to bring the planned research laboratory to Kansas.

“We already have outstanding assets, ranging from private sector firms like Hill’s and Bayer, to government institutions like the new food security facility at K-State.  Kansas has a strong case to make for bringing the planned federal lab to our state,” Sebelius said.

Two sites in Kansas are currently under consideration for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s planned $451 million, 500,000 square foot lab. 

“This facility is needed to fill a critical gap in the nation’s bio- and agro-research plan. Securing this new federal laboratory would allow us to continue to act as a pioneer in scientific discovery on the world stage, while also producing major economic benefits here at home in the form of job creation and investment,” Senator Pat Roberts said.

“NBAF would not only bring $450 million and hundreds of jobs into Kansas, it would also be another strong signal that our state is a national and international leader in cutting-edge bioscience research. The public-private partnership we are launching today is a crucial step to winning the facility,” Lt. Governor Mark Parkinson said.

Thirteen other states are in the running, so the task force will show why Kansas has the needed infrastructure, assets and workforce to host the lab, which is projected to have an economic impact of $3.5 billion over the next 20 years.  Construction of the facility alone is projected to employ 1,000 workers.

“Not only will NBAF be responsible for the creation of hundreds of new construction jobs, as well as hundreds of new high-wage, high-skill research positions, but it will put Kansas at the forefront of bioscience discovery,” said Dan Glickman, former secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and currently president and CEO of the Motion Picture Association. 

Roberts, Parkinson and Glickman will chair the task force, which will coordinate community outreach and advocacy and serve as a focal point for public input on their proposals.  It will also assist in the preparation of an environmental impact statement on the proposed sites.

The task force will be composed of members appointed by the Governor.  She will also designate a chair, vice chair and honorary chairs.

The president of the Kansas Senate and speaker of the Kansas House will appoint one member each, as will the minority leaders of each chamber.  Members of Kansas’ congressional delegation or their designees will serve as ex-officio members of the task force.

Below is a list of the task force members, to date:

Task Force Leadership

• Honorary Chairman: Pat Roberts, U.S. Senator
• Co-Chairman: Dan Glickman, President and CEO, Motion Picture Association of America
• Co-Chairman: Mark Parkinson, Lt. Governor of Kansas
• Vice Chairman: John Carlin, Visiting Professor and Executive-in-Residence, Kansas State University
• Vice Chairman: David Franz, D.V.M., Ph.D., Vice President and Chief Biological Scientist, Midwest Research Institute
• Vice Chairman: Joerg Ohle, President and General Manager, Animal Health Division, Bayer HealthCare, LLC

Task Force Members

Industry

• Ronald S. Brakke, President and CEO, Brakke Consulting
• Paul Casady, Area Director Americas, Intervet International
• E. Thomas Corcoran, President, Fort Dodge Animal Health
• Greg Graves, President and CEO, Burns & McDonnnell
• George Heidgerken, President and COO, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.
• Landon Rowland, Chairman, President and CEO, Everglades Financial
• Don Marvin, President and CEO, IdentiGEN North America Inc.
• Dan Richardson, Director of Research, Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc.
• Justin Skala, President, Hills Pet Nutrition Inc.
• Warren Staley, Chairman & CEO, Cargill Inc.

Research Institutions

• Robert Hemenway, Chancellor, University of Kansas
• Bill Neaves, President and CEO, Stowers Institute for Medical Research
• Robert W. Rubin, Ph.D., President & CEO, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute
• Jim Spigarelli, President and CEO, Midwest Research Institute
• Jon Wefald, President, Kansas State University

Public Officials

• Roderick Bremby, Secretary, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
• Major General Tod Bunting, Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, State of Kansas
• Laura Janas Gasbarre, Mayor, City of Leavenworth
• Major General Carter F. Ham, Commanding General for Training and Readiness, Fort Riley
• Steve Kelly, Acting Secretary, Kansas Department of Commerce
• Adrian Polansky, Secretary, Kansas Department of Agriculture
• Bruce Snead, Mayor, City of Manhattan
• Four Legislative Designees (appointed by Speaker, President, Minority Leaders)

Producer Groups

• Steve Baccus, President, Kansas Farm Bureau
• David Cross, President Kansas Livestock Association
• Bruce W. Little, DVM, Executive Vice President, American Veterinary Medical Assoc.
• Jan Lyons, Past President, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
• Ken McCauley, President, National Corn Growers Association
• Gregory Shelor, President, National Grain Sorghum Producers
• John Thaemert, First Vice President, National Association of Wheat Growers

Partners

• Lyle Butler, President and CEO, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce
• Charlie Gregor, Executive Vice President, Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce
• Angela Kreps, President, Kansas Bioscience Organization
• Tom Romig, Incoming Dean, Washburn School of Law
• Representative of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce

Kansas Congressional Delegation (ex-officio)

• Senator Sam Brownback
• Representative Nancy Boyda
• Representative Jerry Moran
• Representative Dennis Moore
• Representative Todd Tiahrt

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