115 HR 1238 EH: Securing our Agriculture and Food Act U.S. House of Representatives text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IB 115th CONGRESS1st Session H. R. 1238 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Health Affairs responsible for coordinating the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security related to food, agriculture, and veterinary defense against terrorism, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Securing our Agriculture and Food Act.

2.

Coordination of food, agriculture, and veterinary defense against terrorism

(a)

In general

Title V of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 311 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

528.

Coordination of Department of Homeland Security efforts related to food, agriculture, and veterinary defense against terrorism

(a)

Program required

The Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs, shall carry out a program to coordinate the Department’s efforts related to defending the food, agriculture, and veterinary systems of the United States against terrorism and other high-consequence events that pose a high risk to homeland security. (b)

Program elements

The coordination program required by subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, the following: (1)Providing oversight and management of the Department’s responsibilities pursuant to Homeland Security Presidential Directive 9–Defense of United States Agriculture and Food. (2)Providing oversight and integration of the Department’s activities related to veterinary public health, food defense, and agricultural security. (3)Leading the Department’s policy initiatives relating to food, animal, and agricultural incidents, and the impact of such incidents on animal and public health. (4)Leading the Department’s policy initiatives relating to overall domestic preparedness for and collective response to agricultural terrorism. (5)Coordinating with other Department components, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as appropriate, on activities related to food and agriculture security and screening procedures for domestic and imported products. (6)Coordinating with appropriate Federal departments and agencies. (7)Other activities as determined necessary by the Secretary. (c)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this section may be construed as altering or superseding the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture relating to food and agriculture.

. (b)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 527 the following new item: Sec. 528. Coordination of Department of Homeland Security efforts related to food, agriculture, and veterinary defense against terrorism..

Passed the House of Representatives March 22, 2017.Karen L. Haas,Clerk.