In August, I stepped back on campus at Iowa State where I graduated with my master’s degree in public administration years ago. My time in Ames was a formative part of my life and my studies helped guide my role as City Administrator of my hometown of Hull from 1999 to 2006, and my current work in Congress for our families, farmers, students and businesses across Iowa’s 4th Congressional District. Every time I have the chance to visit Iowa State, I am always impressed by the students, educators and administrators who strive for excellence every day and contribute to Iowa State’s top-notch reputation in our state, across the country, and around the world. It’s the vibrant community that makes Iowa State one of our nation’s premier institutions of higher education.
During my most recent stop at Iowa State, I was joined by Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee – G.T. Thompson – and we toured the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) and checked out the Genome to Phenome Initiative.
The VDL plays a pivotal role in preventing and mitigating the spread of foreign animal disease and protecting the health of our herds and flocks. We heard from veterinarians, diagnosticians and veterinary toxicologists who assess and test animal samples to pinpoint various illnesses and diseases. The Farm Bill – which I voted for and passed out of the House Agriculture Committee in May – includes robust investments in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP) and the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB).
This three-legged stool of animal health supports facilities like the VDL – which is one of only 11 fully accredited Tier 1 labs within NAHLN – and ensures that researchers and students can continue their important work. The VDL also partners with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on disease surveillance, prevention and mitigation efforts. Additionally, we had the chance to check out Phase II of the VDL expansion, which will be a game changer for animal disease prevention, research and response in Iowa and across the country. Keeping foreign animal diseases like high-path avian influenza and African swine fever off our farms is vital to our food, economic and national security.
After we toured the VDL, Chairman Thompson and I learned more about the Genome to Phenome Initiative and spoke to experts like Dr. Patrick Schnable and his research assistants about the long-term goals and benefits of this program. Scientific advancements in cutting-edge research – especially corn genetics – has helped our producers feed and fuel our country and the world at lower costs and with fewer inputs. That’s why I introduced the Genome to Phenome Initiative Reauthorization Act – which is part of the Farm Bill – to continue this initiative and fund research concerning genomes and phenomes of both crops and animals critical to American agriculture. Chairman Thompson and I left with a renewed sense of the importance of this program to the vitality and success of our farmers and producers.
To me, education is the key to a prosperous society. History has shown us that investing in agricultural research benefits our farmers, businesses and the world at large. When we learn and introduce our knowledge to the world, we can push boundaries, find new insights and achieve results once thought impossible. While I often say that Iowa is the breadbasket to our country and the world, Iowa State is also the breadbasket of animal research, scientific breakthroughs and committed students and educators. I look forward to seeing what Iowa State achieves in the years ahead and I will continue to support the Cyclone community in any way that I can. Go Clones!
