Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

3 days ago

Trump Says He’s Willing to Let Migrant Farm Laborers Stay in US

3 days ago

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

4 days ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

4 days ago

Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Wins Congressional Approval

4 days ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

4 days ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

4 days ago

Nvidia Set to Become the World’s Most Valuable Company in History

4 days ago

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

4 days ago
Three Congressional Committees Now Investigating Illegal Biolab; Reedley Subpoenaed
Edward Smith updated website photo 2024
By Edward Smith
Published 2 years ago on
September 13, 2023

Share

Congressional investigations into the origins of a Chinese-linked biolab continue, with the city of Reedley now the target of a subpoena.

Nicole Zieba Portrait

“I am just so relieved that Congress is taking this seriously since we have not had that sense thus far from some of our State and federal partners.” — Reedley City Manager Nicole Zieba

The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party issued its first subpoena last week as it demanded documents and records from the city regarding Prestige Biotech Inc. and Universal Meditech Inc, according to Politico.

Politico reported that the Select Committee coordinated with the House Energy & Commerce Committee on the subpoena.

Prestige Biotech acquired 20 different infectious agents, laboratory mice, and thousands of gallons of biological material from Fresno-based Universal Meditech. Universal Meditech manufactured pregnancy and COVID-19 test kits before it shut down in November 2022.

Reedley officials uncovered the lab operated by Prestige Biotech in a warehouse in late 2022.

The committee did not request documents before issuing the subpoena, according to Reedley City Manager Nicole Zieba.

“In issuing these congressional subpoenas, Congress is taking an important step to further collect information and address this matter,” said Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno). “It is my hope that we work in a bipartisan, coordinated manner to fully understand the scope of this lab and prevent any future labs like this one from operating illegally in our communities.”

Federal Oversight Needed on Privately-Funded Labs: Fresno County Officials

A large part of the investigation by Congress will be toward regulation and oversight, said Paul Nerland, Fresno County Administrative Officer.

“We believe federal oversight of these labs is needed and needed now,” Nerland said.

While congressional attorneys did not subpoena Fresno County, investigators met with members of the Fresno County Department of Public Health, according to Joe Prado, assistant director of the department.

They discussed potential solutions to regulate private labs. Prado said privately-funded reasearch labs do not receive the same level of scrutiny as public ones. Current law specifically exempt private labs from certain oversight. While difficult to change, Prado said those exemptions need to be corrected.

While import permits are required to bring in the kind of infectious diseases found at the Reedley lab from overseas, Prado said oversight needs to be done in how those permits are transferred.

The subpoena means Fresno County officials can be “at the table as part of the solution,” Prado said.

At Least Three Committees Looking into Lab

The House Subcommittee on the Coronavirus subpoenaed both the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in its own investigation after saying the two agencies had been uncooperative with requests for information.

Zieba called the action a “friendly subpoena.”

“They wanted to access sensitive documents and data still under investigation, we would not have had the legal authority to release it,” Zieba said. The subpoena allows otherwise sealed records to be opened, she added.

“I am just so relieved that Congress is taking this seriously since we have not had that sense thus far from some of our State and federal partners,” Zieba said.

Fresno County Preparing New Ordinance to Oversee Labs

Nearly a month after the city of Fresno proposed rules to notify the public of new laboratories, Fresno County officials want their own rules about labs.

Prado said a new county ordinance is being proposed to increase the Department of Public Health’s ability to regulate labs with dangerous materials.

Under the proposal, annual inspections would be made to companies with dangerous biological materials. Inspectors from DPH currently don’t have authority over many of the infectious agents found at the Reedley lab, but the new rule would give them oversight of those materials, Prado said. Prado said there were also opportunities to find existing using business licenses.

Prado expected the ordinance to go before the Fresno County Board of Supervisors in October or November.

Fresno County supervisors Nathan Magsig, Buddy Mendes, and Steve Brandau were present at a press conference with Nerland, Zieba, and Prado announcing the subpoena. Magsig said supervisors could not comment on the proposal without having seen it in writing.

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

DON'T MISS

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

DON'T MISS

Trump to Sign Tax-Cut and Spending Bill in July 4 Ceremony

DON'T MISS

Madre Fire Spurs Evacuations Across 3 Counties, Grows to More Than 70,000 Acres

DON'T MISS

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

DON'T MISS

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

DON'T MISS

613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man

DON'T MISS

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

DON'T MISS

Israeli Military Kills 20 in Gaza as Trump Awaits Hamas Reply to Truce Proposal

UP NEXT

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Rachelle Maria Blanco

UP NEXT

Fresno Police to Conduct DUI Checkpoint on Fourth of July, Boost Holiday Patrols

UP NEXT

Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital

UP NEXT

RIP John Harris: Fresno County Rancher, Racehorse Breeder Was a Visionary Leader Who Leaves a ‘Profound Legacy’

UP NEXT

Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients

UP NEXT

Kaweah Health Names Its New Chief Nurse. She’s From Texas

UP NEXT

Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County

UP NEXT

Over 100 Former Senior Officials Warn Against Planned Staff Cuts at US State Department

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Recover Some of the $40,000 in Fireworks Stolen From Bullard High Team

Edward Smith,
Multimedia Journalist
Edward Smith began reporting for GV Wire in May 2023. His reporting career began at Fresno City College, graduating with an associate degree in journalism. After leaving school he spent the next six years with The Business Journal, doing research for the publication as well as covering the restaurant industry. Soon after, he took on real estate and agriculture beats, winning multiple awards at the local, state and national level. You can contact Edward at 559-440-8372 or at Edward.Smith@gvwire.com.

Trump Administration Acknowledges Lack of Evidence From Epstein Documents

51 minutes ago

Dollar rises after Trump announces Japan, South Korea tariffs

1 hour ago

Merced Man Gets More Than 15 Years for Meth Trafficking, High-Speed Chase

1 hour ago

Man Dead After Firing at US Border Patrol Station in Texas

3 hours ago

Tulare County Flume Fire Burns 65 Acres in Sequoia National Forest, Evacuation Order Issued

3 hours ago

Fresno County Fish Fire Burns 15 Acres Near Avocado Lake, 50% Contained

3 hours ago

Wanted Fugitive Found Hiding in Attic Arrested in Chowchilla

4 hours ago

Trump Says US Will Impose 25% Tariffs on Japan, South Korea

4 hours ago

Wall Street Knocked Lower by Tariff Jitters, Musk’s Political Plan Hurts Tesla

4 hours ago

Trial Over Free Speech on Campus, and Trump’s Student Crackdown, Begins

4 hours ago

July 4 Weekend Was No Picnic for Fresno-Area Firefighters. How Bad Did It Get?

How busy were Fresno-area fire departments on July 4 weekend? Some local departments that GV Wire spoke with were still compiling numbers, b...

14 minutes ago

14 minutes ago

July 4 Weekend Was No Picnic for Fresno-Area Firefighters. How Bad Did It Get?

Tulare County fire investigators seized about 300 pounds of illegal fireworks and issued multiple citations during a Fourth of July enforcement operation with the sheriff’s office. (Tulare County SO)
15 minutes ago

Tulare County Seizes 300 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks Over Fourth of July

Model of natural gas pipeline and U.S. flag, July 18, 2022. (Reuters File)
39 minutes ago

US Proposes Rules That Could Boost Oil, Gas Output in US West

Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during a news conference at the White House in Washington, June 27, 2025. For months, Bondi promised the release of documents on the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein that could reveal damaging details, drumming up anticipation over the files, long a source of speculation and conspiracy theories — but on Monday, July 7, a memo by the Justice Department undercut her own statements. (Pete Marovich/The New York Times)
51 minutes ago

Trump Administration Acknowledges Lack of Evidence From Epstein Documents

U.S. dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration taken May 4, 2025. (Reuters File)
1 hour ago

Dollar rises after Trump announces Japan, South Korea tariffs

A U.S. Justice Department logo or seal showing Justice Department headquarters, known as "Main Justice," is seen behind the podium in the Department's headquarters briefing room before a news conference with the Attorney General in Washington, January 24, 2023. (Reuters File)
1 hour ago

Merced Man Gets More Than 15 Years for Meth Trafficking, High-Speed Chase

Photo of caution tape
3 hours ago

Man Dead After Firing at US Border Patrol Station in Texas

The Flume Fire in Sequoia National Forest has burned 65 acres near Highway 190 with no containment as of Monday, July 7, 2025, prompting evacuations in Tulare County. (CalFire)
3 hours ago

Tulare County Flume Fire Burns 65 Acres in Sequoia National Forest, Evacuation Order Issued

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend