State Rep. Dan Moul | Pennsylvania 91st Legislative District
State Rep. Dan Moul | Pennsylvania 91st Legislative District
Gov. Tom Wolf's proposed budget for 2022-2023 suggests eliminating crucial funding for the Pennsylvania Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission, which plays a vital role in maintaining animal health across the state. This budget cut would also affect certain operations within the state's Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services, both of which are instrumental in conducting research, testing, and surveillance of livestock and poultry diseases.
The commission was established by the state Legislature in 1988 following a significant outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the 1980s that severely impacted Pennsylvania's poultry industry. It provides farmers with access to animal health specialists and diagnostic labs, enabling early identification of disease outbreaks to prevent widespread crises. The resources provided by this commission were pivotal in managing HPAI outbreaks in the 1990s, saving considerable costs for producers and consumers.
Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams), chairman of the Pennsylvania House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, emphasized the importance of proactive measures over reactive ones regarding animal disease outbreaks. "As a member of the commission, I am acutely aware of the importance of planned interventions instead of crisis interventions when it comes to animal disease outbreaks," said Moul. He highlighted recent detections of HPAI in Indiana's commercial turkey flock and wild birds along migratory paths over Pennsylvania as well as concerns about African swine fever potentially entering through ports or airports.
Pennsylvania's livestock and poultry sectors contribute nearly $6 billion to its economy. Moul expressed confusion over Gov. Wolf's decision not to prioritize protecting this critical part of Pennsylvania’s food supply given that food insecurity is stated as a priority for his administration: "HPAI is at our doorstep and other diseases remain a constant threat," he said.
Representative Dan Moul
91st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Donna Pinkham
717.260.6452
dpinkham@pahousegop.com
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