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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic |
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Laboratory is marking its 50th anniversary on March 6, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, Created by the Texas Legislature in 1967, the TVMDL |
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is dedicated to providing veterinary diagnostic services for both |
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livestock and pets, with the goal of protecting the health of |
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animals, the safety of the public, and the commercial interests of |
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livestock owners; the agency is composed of two full-service |
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laboratories in College Station and Amarillo, opened in 1969 and |
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1975 respectively, and two additional poultry laboratories in |
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Center and Gonzales; and |
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WHEREAS, The staff of the TVMDL are trained to examine and |
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diagnose live and deceased animals; the agency also collects |
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critical laboratory data necessary to identify disease and issues |
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appropriate warnings to individuals and government clients; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2004, the USDA selected the TVMDL to be part of |
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the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, a group of state and |
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regional laboratories that perform surveillance testing for |
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high-consequence agricultural and zoonotic pathogens; to that end, |
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Biosafety Level 3 laboratories have been built at both its College |
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Station and Amarillo locations, enabling staff to safely work with |
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and contain contagious animal disease agents; and |
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WHEREAS, In its mission to serve the diagnostic needs of |
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animal owners and food animal industries and to facilitate the |
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early detection of diseases, TVMDL is committed to developing new |
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diagnostic tools and incorporating state-of-the-art technology; |
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the agency's work is made possible by its highly skilled |
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professional, technical, and administrative staff, as well as by |
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its professional relationships with the Texas A&M University |
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College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science, practicing |
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veterinarians, industry leaders, and the general public; and |
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WHEREAS, A half century after its establishment, the Texas |
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A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory continues to promote |
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animal health and to protect public safety, and in so doing, it is |
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making important and far-reaching contributions across the Lone |
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Star State and beyond; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Texas |
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A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory and extend to all |
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those associated with the agency sincere best wishes for continued |
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success with their important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the TVMDL as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |