Herb Kohl: “I congratulate Senator Dorgan and Senator Campbell, chairman and ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on…”

“I congratulate Senator Dorgan and Senator Campbell, chairman and ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Treasury and General Government, for their fine work in crafting the bill now before the Senate. I also thank them for accepting an amendment I have offered to help strengthen this country's safeguards against the possible introduction of foreign animal disease. I serve as chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies, and we have given substantial attention to the ongoing problems of exotic pests and disease that have been introduced into this country over the years. Attention and concern for this problem has been heightened this past year with reports from the United Kingdom where outbreaks of foot and mouth disease have severely harmed the British economy and, in particular, rural areas in the British Isles. The U.S. livestock sector quickly realized the danger that the spread of foot and mouth disease, and similar infectious diseases, could reach our shores with equally devastating effect.”