Rep. Price, NBAF is a bad idea; kick it!

I really do not understand why Rep. Price stands in support of NBAF. It is an incredibly bad idea! There are so many people who are against this facility. Rep. Brad Miller (a Democratic Representative who I love) has come to his senses and pulled his support for NBAF.

I am today notifying the Department of Homeland Security that I do not support locating the National Bio Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) at the proposed Butner site. I have worked with other members of North Carolina's congressional delegation to urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to work closely with elected officials and citizens in Granville County to address concerns about the proposed facility. The Government Accountability Office and the House Energy and Commerce Committee, among others, have raised sober, serious concerns about the facility that DHS has not satisfied. If democracy means anything, local elected officials speak for the people of their community, and local elected officials in Granville County now oppose bringing the facility to Butner. I cannot support bringing a federal facility to a community in my district that does not welcome it.

"I continue to believe that we must do the research that would be conducted at the proposed facility to protect public health and our food supply, whether at the current location at Plum Island or elsewhere, and that wherever the research is done it must be done safely."

It is past time for us to hold Rep. Price responsible! Here is the press release from Lawson for Congress:


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 12, 2008

CONTACT:
Linda Williams
919-481-1177

Why Won't David Price Just Say "No" to NBAF?

RALEIGH - Today, North Carolina Congressional candidate William (B.J.) Lawson called on Congressman David Price to withdraw his support for the Department of Homeland Security's attempt to bring the National Bio-Agro Defense Facility (NABF) to the Granville/Durham county line.

"In 1948, Congress made it illegal for a facility such as NBAF to study biological contagions, like Foot and Mouth Disease, that could spread from animals to humans in the continental United States. Since then, this work has been done on Plum Island to help limit any outbreaks to the general population from accidental releases that would inevitably occur," said Lawson.

"Congressman Price spoke at a meeting in Durham on June 16, 2008, which I attended, where he said neither he nor anyone else should make rash decisions about NBAF either way," Lawson continued. "I would like to ask him why then did he vote just two days later to circumvent the 1948 law and clear the way for Homeland Security to bring the lab to North Carolina. He has also openly supported NBAF to his constituents. Plainly the only people who want this facility are special and corporate interests. The people of Granville and Durham don't want it and even the Democratic party of Orange County is against it. Also, recently his colleague Congressman Brad Miller has withdrawn his support."

"Now Price says he is neutral on NBAF, but what does that mean? Does neutral mean that he supports it, but does not want the voters in his district to know that he supports it in an election year?" says Lawson. "I am not the only one asking here, but would the real Congressman Price please stand up and tell us if he supports NBAF or not? The voters of the 4th District have a right to know where Congressman Price truly stands on this issue."

Dr. William "BJ" Lawson is running for Congress in North Carolina's 4th Congressional District.

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