Authorizes appropriations.
[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1563 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1563
To establish a coordinated program of science-based countermeasures to
address the threats of agricultural bioterrorism.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 17, 2001
Mrs. Hutchison (for herself, Mr. Miller, and Mrs. Feinstein) introduced
the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a coordinated program of science-based countermeasures to
address the threats of agricultural bioterrorism.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Agricultural Bioterrorism
Countermeasures Act of 2001''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) the events of September 11, 2001, have heightened
awareness of the threat of acts of bioterrorism, including
attacks directed at the domestic food supply and underlying
agriculture;
(2) evidence of access to and rudimentary experiments with
chemical and biological agents and the reported interest in the
operation of cropdusting aircraft point to possible terrorist
intent to use biological or chemical weapons;
(3) an attack of agricultural bioterrorism would pose
serious challenges such as--
(A) hazards to human health;
(B) erosion of public confidence in the safety of
the domestic food supply; and
(C) damage to the economy;
(4) it is important to develop short- and long-term
strategies and supporting technology to more effectively and
efficiently protect the domestic food supply from acts of
bioterrorism;
(5) a program of ongoing research and development is
required to reduce the vulnerability of plant and animal
agriculture and the food supply; and
(6) it is critical to bring Federal, academic, and private
sector capacities to bear on the threat of agricultural
bioterrorism.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to strengthen the research and development capacity of
the United States to respond to the threat of agricultural
bioterrorism;
(2) to promote the collaboration between the Federal,
academic, and private sectors in addressing agricultural
bioterrorism; and
(3) to strengthen the capacity of regulatory agencies to
prepare for, respond to, and mitigate the consequences of a
bioterrorist attack.
SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.
In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
Agriculture.
SEC. 4. INTRAMURAL AGRICULTURAL BIOTERRORISM RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall expand Agricultural Research
Service programs to protect the domestic food supply by--
(1) enhancing the capability to respond immediately to the
needs of regulatory agencies involved in protecting the food
supply;
(2) cooperating with academic and private sector partners
to maximize the impact of research and development;
(3) strengthening linkages with the intelligence community
to better identify research needs and evaluate acquired
materials;
(4) expanding the involvement of the Agricultural Research
Service with international organizations dealing with plant and
animal disease control; and
(5) taking other appropriate measures.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $140,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2003 through 2007.
SEC. 5. CONSORTIUM FOR COUNTERMEASURES AGAINST AGRICULTURAL
BIOTERRORISM.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a Consortium for
Countermeasures Against Agricultural Bioterrorism to help form stable
long-term programs of research, development, and evaluation of options
to enhance the biosecurity of United States agriculture.
(b) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Consortium shall be comprised of
institutions of higher education positioned to partner with
Federal agencies to address agricultural bioterrorism.
(2) Designation.--The Secretary shall designate for
membership in the Consortium--
(A) 3 institutions of higher education that are
national centers for countermeasures against
agricultural bioterrorism; and
(B) not more than 7 additional institutions of
higher education with existing programs relating to
agricultural bioterrorism.
(3) National centers.--The national centers shall be
selected using the following criteria:
(A) Co-location of Department of Agriculture
laboratories or training centers on member campuses.
(B) Demonstrated expertise in the area of plant and
animal diseases.
(C) Strong linkages with animal and plant
diagnostic laboratories.
(D) Close coordination with State cooperative
extension programs that work in cooperation with
industry, farm and commodity organizations, and
regulatory agencies.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2003 through 2007.
SEC. 6. AGRICULTURAL BIOTERRORISM COMPETITIVE RESEARCH GRANTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall enhance the National Research
Initiative of the Competitive Grants Program of the Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension Service by awarding grants focused
on the science and technology needed to protect against and deal with
acts of bioterrorism directed at the domestic food supply and
agriculture.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $30,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2003 through 2007.
SEC. 7. EXPANSION OF ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
ACTIVITIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall enhance and expand the
capacity of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service by--
(1) increasing inspection capacity at international points
of origin;
(2) improving surveillance at ports of entry and customs;
(3) enhancing methods of protecting against introduction of
plant and animal disease organisms by terrorists;
(4) adopting new strategies and technology for dealing with
outbreaks of plant and animal disease arising from acts of
terrorism or from unintentional introduction, including--
(A) establishing cooperative agreements among
Veterinary Services of the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, State animal health commissions and
regulatory agencies for livestock and poultry health,
and private veterinary practitioners to enhance the
preparedness and ability of Veterinary Services and the
commissions and agencies to respond to outbreaks of
such animal diseases; and
(B) strengthen the planning and coordination with
State and local agencies, including--
(i) State animal health commissions and
regulatory agencies for livestock and poultry
health; and
(ii) State agriculture departments; and
(5) strengthening the planning and coordination with
relevant State and local agencies, including--
(A) State animal health commissions and regulatory
agencies for livestock and poultry health; and
(B) State agriculture departments; and
(6) taking other appropriate measures.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $140,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2003 through 2007.
SEC. 8. EXPANSION OF FOOD SAFETY INSPECTION SERVICE ACTIVITIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall enhance and expand the
capacity of the Food Safety Inspection Service by--
(1) enhancing the ability to inspect and ensure the safety
and wholesomeness of meat and poultry products;
(2) developing new methods for rapid detection and
identification of diseases and other hazardous agents;
(3) applying new technologies to improve ante mortem and
post mortem inspection procedures;
(4) improving the capacity to inspect international meat
and poultry products at points of origin and at ports of entry;
and
(5) strengthening collaboration among agencies within the
Department of Agriculture and in other parts of Federal and
State government through the sharing of information and
technology.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $140,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2003 through 2007.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10796-10797)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line