REQUESTING CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A SHARED HIGH-LEVEL CONTAINMENT FACILITY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO.

WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico is blessed with a variety of human and natural resources; and

WHEREAS, among those resources are some of the best and most comprehensive infectious disease programs in the world; and

WHEREAS, these programs include the research, clinical and teaching programs at the university of New Mexico, programs at the department of health, the capabilities of the national laboratories, the only centralized state office of medical investigation in the nation and the state veterinary diagnostic laboratory; and

WHEREAS, these unique capabilities place New Mexico in a critical position to provide national leadership in several areas of homeland defense, especially related to bioterrorism; and

WHEREAS, the current lack of high-level containment facilities in the state creates a barrier to this opportunity and presents a serious health risk to citizens and health care workers;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the congress and the president of the United States be requested to consider financing a shared high-level containment facility at the university of New Mexico to be used by the office of the medical investigator, the state veterinary diagnostic laboratory, the university's center for emerging infectious diseases, the state crime laboratory and the state diagnostic laboratory; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the president of the United States and to the New Mexico congressional delegation.