SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Texas officials are offering $100 million to the federal government in an effort to lure the new national biodefense lab to San Antonio.

Gov. Rick Perry held a news conference Thursday to announce that he and state leaders had committed to seek $56 million in funds from the state Legislature for the lab. The other money had already been committed by local and other agencies.

San Antonio is among six finalist sites for the new National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. The $451 million lab will study some of the world's most virulent biological diseases.

The Department of Homeland Security is expected to select a site by the end of the year.

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