REP. TED LIEU STATEMENT ON USDA FUNDING TO FIGHT ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D | Los Angeles County) issued the following statement in light of the announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) of $6 million to fund research to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This funding is available through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, and administered by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

“I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is dedicating more funding for research to fight antimicrobial resistance. The investigation the House Oversight Committee and I conducted for the past year revealed that antibiotic resistant bacteria (superbug) outbreaks are more widespread than previously thought. President Obama has declared the fight against superbugs is a national security priority and released a five year national plan of action last year.

I recently introduced two vital bills in our national effort to combat superbugs: H.R. 4965, the DEVICE Act, and H.R. 4966, the Preventing Superbugs and Protecting Patients Act, which help combat superbug outbreaks due to medical devices. I hope Congress will follow the Administration’s lead and also join the fight against superbug outbreaks.”

###