Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Brucella Vaccine Supply topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee urges Congress to bolster Brucella vaccine production after supply concerns
Summary
Senate Joint Resolution 27, urging congressional steps to increase domestic production of brucellosis vaccine, received broad support from livestock groups and the Montana Department of Livestock; the committee concurred by voice vote (17–0 recorded) and recommended a due pass.
The House Agriculture Committee unanimously concurred in Senate Joint Resolution 27 after proponents described pandemic‑era production shortfalls for Brucella (brucellosis) vaccine and urged federal action to expand domestic vaccine capacity.
Sponsor Senator Willis Curti introduced SJ27, saying Montana’s designated surveillance areas and the presence of brucellosis in wildlife make reliable vaccine supply critical to producers. Ellie Bridton representing the Montana Stock Growers Association, Karli Johnson of the Farm Bureau, and Jasmine Krotkov of the Montana Farmers Union all testified in favor; State Veterinarian Tawny Szymanski told the committee the department relies heavily on vaccine supply and that production problems and shipping delays from the single U.S. Colorado facility have created shortages.
Szymanski estimated the vaccine’s shelf life at about six to nine months and said per‑dose manufacturer cost is likely in the range of $1 to $2; she offered to provide further documentation. Witnesses cited North Dakota’s recent temporary waiver of vaccine requirements as evidence of supply strain.
The committee moved to executive action and, after a voice vote and proxy confirmations, the clerk announced the concurrence with recorded support counted at 17 in favor and 0 opposed. The committee indicated Representative Tillman will carry the resolution to the floor.
No statutory changes or funding mechanisms were adopted in committee; SJ27 is a request to Congress to address production capacity issues and supply‑chain resilience for a vaccine the state considers essential to livestock health.
