I 108th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3822 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 24, 2004 Ms. McCollum introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To amend the Animal Health Protection Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an electronic nationwide livestock identification system, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the &short-title1;.

2.

Nationwide livestock identification system; review of usda responses to outbreaks of disease in livestock

Section 10411 of the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8310) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections: (f)

Nationwide livestock identification system

(1)

In general

Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall establish an electronic nationwide livestock identification system for the identification of individual animals to enhance the speed and accuracy of the response of the Department of Agriculture to outbreaks of disease in livestock. (2)

Capabilities

The livestock identification system shall be capable of tracing, within 48 hours, an individual animal from birth to slaughter. (3)

Use of existing technology

The Secretary may use technology developed by private entities before the date of enactment of this subsection to operate the livestock identification system. (4)

Financial assistance

The Secretary may provide financial assistance to producers to assist the producers in complying with the livestock identification system. (5)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2005 to carry out this subsection $50,000,000, of which $25,000,000 shall be available to carry out paragraph (4). (g)

Review of responses to outbreaks of disease

The Secretary may appoint an international panel of scientific experts to provide an objective review of a response by the Department of Agriculture to an outbreak of disease in livestock and identify areas for improvements in such responses..