U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the full Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies FY09 Appropriations Bill which includes $750,000 for Westchester County’s Department of Laboratories and Research for their Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory. The laboratory would be used to rapidly detect infectious agents causing serious diseases such as the Avian Flu, SARS, TB, Monkey Pox, and the agents of bioterrorism. The bill will now proceed to the Senate Floor as the next step in the appropriations process.  Schumer worked closely with members of the Appropriations Committee to include funding for the project in this year's spending bill.

"This is terrific news for Westchester County," said Schumer.  "As new and complex diseases continue to pop up across the globe, it is essential that researchers are proactive in early detection strategies and treatments. By investing our federal dollars in the team of top-notch researchers in Westchester County, I’m confident we will not only make great strides in combating these kinds of diseases across the entire country, but we will ensure that Westchester County can react swiftly in the event of an outbreak.”

The federal funding will support the Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory at the County's Department of Labs & Research and their work on the rapid detection of infectious agents causing serious diseases such as Avian Flu, SARS, TB, Monkey Pox and the agents of bioterrorism. Such a facility will be used to diagnose other infectious agents that are difficult to grow in cultures, such as agents of Whooping Cough, Herpes in CSF, EBV, HIV and some Enteroviruses.

Now that the bill has been approved by the full Senate Appropriations Committee, it will be sent to the Senate floor. Following approval by the Senate, the bill will move towards Conference with the House and then to the President for signature.

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