A local congressman who serves as Vice Chair of the House Natural Ag Committee is hoping to increase the budget of the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Ames. State Representative for House District 78, Jarad Klein, says he’s working to get them an additional $220,000, bringing their budget up to $4 million annually. He explains the growing threat of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in hog herds, and the work the vet lab is doing to find a solution, justifies the increase. He says with the role hog operations play in the local economy, this is especially important for Washington County.