Roberts, McCaskill introduce bill to help protect the nation’s food supply from agro-terrorism

U.S. Sens. Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) introduced legislation last week to help protect against a terror-style attack on the nation’s agriculture industry and ensure food safety for American consumers.

The Securing our Agriculture and Food Act would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to lead the federal effort in protecting the nation’s food, agriculture, and veterinary systems against both terrorism and high-risk events. Specifically, the legislation authorizes the secretary to collaborate with various agencies to ensure that the agriculture, animal health, and human health sectors are integrated into the department’s domestic preparedness policy initiatives.

“As DHS continues to build the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kan., now is the exact time to shore up authorities regarding coordination and mitigation should the worst occur and the nation is hit by a biological attack on our food and agriculture,” Roberts, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, said. “As the backbone of the U.S. economy, the spread of any deadly pathogen among our livestock and plant population would cause irreparable damage.”

Donovan said the nation’s enemies were intent on destroying the nation’s food supply and that the bill was essential to enhancing agro-terrorism preparedness and emergency response measures.

A companion bill was introduced in the House by U.S. Reps. David Young (R-IA), Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), and Dan Donovan (R-NY).