TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A Kansas Senate committee has approved a bill authorizing an additional $202 million in bonds for a national biodefense lab after adding limits designed to address some conservative Republicans’ concerns.
The Ways and Means Committee’s voice vote Wednesday sends the measure to the full Senate for debate, possibly as early as Friday.
Kansas has authorized $105 million in bonds for the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility at Kansas State University. Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has said the new bonds are necessary to fulfill the state’s promise to cover part of the construction costs.
The $1.2 billion facility will research dangerous animal diseases.
Some conservative GOP senators questioned authorizing new bonds. The bill says they can’t be issued until the federal government signs a contract with a construction contractor.
