U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) and a bipartisan group of Congress members asked U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to explore all available options to address the latest avian flu outbreak.
In a Feb. 18 letter, the group said the USDA should explore all the mitigation and prevention options available to contain the outbreak.
“The United States is now entering the fourth year of an outbreak of HPAI that has devastated farms, required the depopulation of more than 136 million birds on commercial poultry operations, and infected a small but growing number of farm workers. A new urgency is required from the USDA to address the evolving situation,” the lawmakers wrote. “We stand ready to work with you as you provide leadership on this vitally important issue, the largest animal health outbreak that the department has ever dealt with.”
Lawmakers asked that the agency look into vaccination strategies for laying hens and turkeys; reach out to overseas partners to protect and maintain international trade; establish an HPAI strategic initiative to bring together industry experts to formulate a response; support states through the USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy; ensure auditors are in place to carry out biosecurity assessments; and revise indemnity rates for laying hens and pullets to compensate impacted producers.
Poultry producers support the law makers’ efforts.
“The ongoing HPAI outbreak continues to wreak havoc on turkey producers across the country, underscoring the need for decisive action and proactive solutions,” Leslee Oden, President and CEO, National Turkey Federation, said. “A comprehensive strategy — including global coordination on a vaccination strategy to ensure minimal trade impact — is critical to protecting poultry health, stabilizing our industry and ensuring consumers have access to safe, affordable turkey products for years to come.”
The letter was also signed by Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tina Smith (D-MN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tedd Budd (R-NC), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Todd Young (R-IN), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Roger Marshall (R-KS), David McCormick (R-PA), and Jerry Moran (R-KS).