[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 27 (Wednesday, March 9, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2387-S2391]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. AKAKA (for himself and Mr. Durbin):
  S. 573. A bill to improve the response of the Federal Government to 
agroterrorism and agricultural diseases; to the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce two bills to 
increase the security of the Nation's agriculture and food supply: the 
Homeland Security Food and Agriculture Act and the Agriculture Security 
Assistance Act. Both measures build on legislation I sponsored in the 
107th and 108th Congresses. I would like to thank my good friend, 
Senator Durbin, who cosponsored my agriculture security bills last 
session, for continuing his support of this legislation.
  The first bill, the Homeland Security Food and Agriculture Act, will 
enhance coordination between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 
and other Federal agencies responsible for food and agriculture 
security. The Agriculture Security Assistance Act will increase 
coordination between Federal and State, local, and tribal officials and 
offer financial and technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, and 
veterinarians to improve preparedness.
  The Nation's agriculture industry represents about 13 percent of GDP 
and nearly 17 percent of domestic employment. Yet, this critical 
economic sector is not receiving adequate protection from accidental or 
intentional contamination that would damage our economy, and, most 
importantly, could cost lives. Such contamination could be devastating 
to states such as Hawaii which generates more than $1.9 billion in 
agricultural sales annually.
  Just last week, the President of Interpol warned that the 
consequences of an attack on livestock are ``substantial'' and 
``relatively little'' is being done to prevent such an attack.
  The introduction of my bills coincides with the release of a report I 
requested from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) entitled 
``Much is Being Done to Protect Agriculture from a Terrorist Attack, 
but Important Challenges Remain.'' The report reviews the current state 
of agriculture security in the United States and makes recommendations. 
While GAO reported some accomplishments, such as conducting 
vulnerability assessments of agricultural products, establishing the 
Food and Agriculture Sector Coordinating Council, and funding two 
university-based Centers of Excellence to research livestock and 
poultry diseases, GAO found that critical vulnerabilities still exist.
  Even though veterinarians may be the first to spot outbreaks of 
diseases, Department of Agriculture (USDA) certified veterinarians are 
not required to

[[Page S2388]]

demonstrate any knowledge of foreign animal diseases. This is short 
sighted given how easily animal diseases can travel from country to 
country as we have seen with the avian flu over the past few years. It 
is important that veterinarians, who will be our first responders in 
the event of an agroterrorist attack, be able to identify symptoms of a 
foreign disease in U.S. livestock.
  GAO also highlights USDA's inability to deploy vaccines within 24 
hours of an animal disease outbreak as required by Homeland Security 
Presidential Directive 9 (HSPD-9). According to GAO, the vaccine for 
foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which is the only animal disease vaccine 
that the United States stockpiles, is purchased from Britain in a 
concentrate form. To use the vaccine the concentrate must be sent back 
to Britain to be activated, which adds at least three weeks to the 
deployment time.
  According to a scenario from Dr. Tom McGinn, formerly of the North 
Carolina Department of Agriculture, FMD would spread to 23 States five 
days after an initial outbreak and to 40 States after 30 days. By the 
time the vaccine is deployed, FMD could spread across the country. We 
cannot afford to wait three weeks to start vaccinating livestock. Why 
is the United States outsourcing this critical security function? USDA 
should either store ready-to-use vaccines in the U.S. or examine ways 
to activate the vaccines in this country.
  Equally troubling is that over the past 2 years, the number of 
agricultural inspections performed by the U.S. has declined by 3.4 
million since DHS took over the border inspection responsibility from 
USDA. Mr. Kim Mann, a spokesman from the National Association of 
Agriculture Employees (NAAE), expressed similar concerns at a February 
10, 2005, hearing conducted by the Senate Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight of Government 
Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia (OGM). 
Mr. Mann testified that of the approximately 2,100 Agriculture 
Quarantine Inspection positions that were transferred from USDA to DHS 
in 2003, only about 1,300 of those positions are currently filled. 
According to Mr. Mann, agriculture inspectors have left DHS to return 
to USDA because of DHS's lack of commitment to its agriculture mission, 
and DHS is not filling these vacancies. I recently wrote Undersecretary 
for Border and Transportation Security Asa Hutchinson expressing my 
concern over these reports because agriculture inspections are crucial 
to the economy of Hawaii which is home to more endangered species than 
any other State.

  GAO also reported a lack of communication between DHS and states 
regarding the development of emergency response plans, grant guidance, 
and best practices. States agriculture officials were given as little 
as three days to provide input on the National Response Plan and the 
National Infrastructure Protection Plan. In addition, the State 
Homeland Security Grant Program grant guidance puts little emphasis on 
agriculture as a sector eligible for assistance. In fact, agriculture 
only became eligible in fiscal year 04 and many states are unaware that 
funds can be directed towards agriculture security. In addition, State 
and industry officials reported that there is no mechanism to share 
lessons learned from exercises or real-life animal disease outbreaks.
  GAO further notes that shortcomings exist in DHS's Federal 
coordination of national efforts to protect against agroterrorism. 
Federal officials claim that there is confusion in interagency working 
groups as to which responsibility falls with whom. DHS reportedly also 
has been unable to coordinate agriculture security research efforts 
government-wide as is required by HSPD-9. While some program staff from 
DHS, USDA, and Health and Human Services have engaged in preliminary 
discussions, there is no overall departmental coordination of policy 
and budget issues between the various Federal agencies.
  My bills address many of the concerns raised by GAO. The Homeland 
Security Food and Agriculture Act will: increase communication and 
coordination between DHS and state, local, and tribal homeland security 
officials regarding agroterrorism; Ensure agriculture security is 
included in state, local, and regional emergency response plans; and 
establish a task force of state and local first responders that will 
work with DHS to identify best practices in the area of agriculture 
security.
  The Agriculture Security Assistance Act will: provide financial and 
technical assistance to states and localities for agroterrorism 
preparedness and response; increase international agricultural disease 
surveillance and inspections of imported agricultural products; require 
that certified veterinarians be knowledgeable in foreign animal 
diseases; and require that USDA study the costs and benefits of 
developing a more robust animal disease vaccine stockpile.
  The United States needs a coordinated approach in dealing with the 
possibility of an attack on our food supply, which could affect 
millions. While improvements have occurred since I first voiced my 
concerns over food and agriculture security in 2001, critical 
vulnerabilities remain. I urge my colleagues to join me in protecting 
America's breadbasket and support these vital pieces of legislation.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of both bills be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bills were ordered tobe printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 572

       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 ``Homeland Security Food and 
     Agriculture Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. AGRICULTURAL BIOSECURITY.

       (a) In General.--Title VIII of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 361 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:

                 ``Subtitle J--Agricultural Biosecurity

     ``SEC. 899A. DEFINITIONS.

       ``In this subtitle:
       ``(1) Agricultural disease.--The term `agricultural 
     disease' means an outbreak of a plant or animal disease, or a 
     pest infestation, that requires prompt action in order to 
     prevent injury or damage to people, plants, livestock, 
     property, the economy, or the environment.
       ``(2)  Agriculture.--The term `agriculture' includes--
       ``(A) the science and practice of an activity relating to--
       ``(i) food, feed, and fiber production; or
       ``(ii) the processing, marketing, distribution, use, or 
     trade of food, feed, or fiber;
       ``(B) a social science, such as--
       ``(i) family and consumer science;
       ``(ii) nutritional science;
       ``(iii) food science and engineering; or
       ``(iv) agricultural economics; and
       ``(C) an environmental or natural resource science, such 
     as--
       ``(i) forestry;
       ``(ii) wildlife science;
       ``(iii) fishery science;
       ``(iv) aquaculture;
       ``(v) floraculture; or
       ``(vi) veterinary medicine.
       ``(3) Agroterrorist act.--
       ``(A) In general.--The term `agroterrorist act' means the 
     criminal act, committed with the intent described in 
     subparagraph (B), of causing or attempting to cause damage or 
     harm (including destruction or contamination) to--
       ``(i) a crop;
       ``(ii) livestock;
       ``(iii) farm or ranch equipment;
       ``(iv) material or property associated with agriculture; or
       ``(v) a person engaged in an agricultural activity.
       ``(B) Intent.--The term `agroterrorist act' means an act 
     described in subparagraph (A) that is committed with the 
     intent to--
       ``(i) intimidate or coerce a civilian population; or
       ``(ii) influence the policy of a government by intimidation 
     or coercion.
       ``(4) Biosecurity.--
       ``(A) In general.--The term `biosecurity' means protection 
     from the risk posed by a biological, chemical, or 
     radiological agent to--
       ``(i) the agricultural economy;
       ``(ii) the environment;
       ``(iii) human health; or
       ``(iv) plant or animal health.
       ``(B)  Inclusions.--The term `biosecurity' includes the 
     exclusion, eradication, and control of a biological agent 
     that causes an agricultural disease.
       ``(5) Emergency response provider.--The term `emergency 
     response provider' includes any Federal, State, or local--
       ``(A) emergency public safety professional;
       ``(B) law enforcement officer;
       ``(C) emergency medical professional (including an employee 
     of a hospital emergency facility);
       ``(D) veterinarian or other animal health professional; and

[[Page S2389]]

       ``(E) related personnel, agency, or authority.
       ``(6) Suspect location.--The term `suspect location' means 
     a location that, as recognized by an element of the 
     intelligence community--
       ``(A) has experienced, or may experience, an agroterrorist 
     act or an unusual disease; or
       ``(B) has harbored, or may harbor, a person that committed 
     an agroterrorist act.

     ``SEC. 899B. AGRICULTURAL SECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE 
                   DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

       ``(a) Coordination of Food and Agricultural Security.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish and carry 
     out a program to protect the agriculture and food supply of 
     the United States from agroterrorist acts.
       ``(2) Program inclusions.--The program established pursuant 
     to paragraph (1) shall include provisions for --
       ``(A) advising and coordinating with Federal, State, local, 
     regional, and tribal homeland security officials regarding--
       ``(i) preparedness for and the response to an agroterrorist 
     act; and
       ``(ii) the detection, prevention, and mitigation of an 
     agroterrorist act; and
       ``(B) executing the agriculture security responsibilities 
     of the Secretary described in Homeland Security Presidential 
     Directive 7 (December 17, 2003) and Homeland Security 
     Presidential Directive 9 (February 3, 2004).
       ``(b) Responsibilities.--
       ``(1) Secretary.--The Secretary shall have responsibility 
     for--
       ``(A) increasing communication and coordination among all 
     Federal, State, local, regional, and tribal emergency 
     response providers regarding biosecurity;
       ``(B) ensuring that each Federal, State, local, regional, 
     and tribal emergency response provider understands and 
     executes the role of that emergency response provider in 
     response to an agroterrorist attack;
       ``(C)(i) ensuring that State, local, and tribal officials 
     have adequate access to information and resources at the 
     Federal level; and
       ``(ii) developing and implementing information-sharing 
     procedures by which a Federal, State, local, regional, or 
     tribal emergency response provider can share information 
     regarding a biological threat, risk, or vulnerability;
       ``(D) coordinating with the Secretary of Transportation to 
     develop guidelines for restrictions on the interstate 
     transportation of an agricultural commodity or product in 
     response to an agricultural disease;
       ``(E) coordinating with the Administrator of the 
     Environmental Protection Agency in considering the potential 
     environmental impact of a response by Federal, regional, 
     State, local, and tribal emergency response providers to an 
     agricultural disease;
       ``(F) working with Federal agencies (including the 
     Department of Agriculture and other elements of the 
     intelligence community) to improve the ability of employees 
     of the Department of Homeland Security to identify a 
     biological commodity or product, livestock, and any other 
     good that is imported from a suspect location;
       ``(G) coordinating with the Department of State to provide 
     the President and Federal agencies guidelines for 
     establishing a mutual assistance agreement with another 
     country, including an agreement--
       ``(i) to provide training to veterinarians, public health 
     workers, and agriculture specialists of the United States in 
     the identification, diagnosis, and control of foreign 
     diseases;
       ``(ii) to provide resources and technical assistance 
     personnel to a foreign government with limited resources; and
       ``(iii) to participate in a bilateral or multilateral 
     training program or exercise relating to biosecurity.
       ``(2) Undersecretary for emergency response and 
     preparedness.--The Undersecretary for Emergency Response and 
     Preparedness shall have responsibility for--
       ``(A) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
     of this subtitle, cooperating with State, local, and tribal 
     homeland security officials to establish State, local, and 
     regional response plans for an agricultural disease or 
     agroterrorist act that include--
       ``(i) a comprehensive needs analyses to determine the 
     appropriate investment requirements for responding to an 
     agricultural disease or agroterrorist act;
       ``(ii) a potential emergency management assistance compact 
     and any other mutual assistance agreement between neighboring 
     States; and
       ``(iii) an identification of State and local laws 
     (including regulations) and procedures that may affect the 
     implementation of a State response plan; and
       ``(B) not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of 
     this subtitle, establishing a task force consisting of State 
     and local homeland security officials that shall--
       ``(i) identify the best practices for carrying out a 
     regional or State biosecurity program;
       ``(ii) make available to State, local, and tribal 
     governments a report that describes the best practices 
     identified under clause (i); and
       ``(iii) design and make available information (based on the 
     best practices identified under clause (i)) concerning 
     training exercises for emergency response providers in the 
     form of printed materials and electronic media to--

       ``(I) managers of State, local, and tribal emergency 
     response provider organizations; and
       ``(II) State health and agricultural officials.

       ``(c) Grants To Facilitate Participation of State and Local 
     Animal Health Care Officials.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Office of State and Local 
     Coordination and Preparedness, in consultation with the 
     Undersecretary for Emergency Response and Preparedness and 
     the Secretary, shall establish a program under which the 
     Secretary shall provide grants to communities to facilitate 
     the participation of State and local animal health care 
     officials in community emergency planning efforts.
       ``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $5,000,000 
     for fiscal year 2006.''.

                                 S. 573

       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 Security 
     Assistance Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Agricultural disease.--The term ``agricultural 
     disease'' means an outbreak of a plant or animal disease, or 
     a pest infestation, that requires prompt action in order to 
     prevent injury or damage to people, plants, livestock, 
     property, the economy, or the environment.
       (2) Agricultural disease emergency.--The term 
     ``agricultural disease emergency'' means an agricultural 
     disease that the Secretary determines to be an emergency 
     under--
       (A) section 415 of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 
     7715); or
       (B) section 10407(b) of the Animal Health Protection Act (7 
     U.S.C. 8306(b)).
       (3) Agriculture.--The term ``agriculture'' includes--
       (A) the science and practice of activities relating to 
     food, feed, and fiber production, processing, marketing, 
     distribution, use, and trade;
       (B) family and consumer science, nutrition, food science 
     and engineering, agricultural economics, and other social 
     sciences; and
       (C) forestry, wildlife science, fishery science, 
     aquaculture, floraculture, veterinary medicine, and other 
     environmental and natural resource sciences.
       (4) Agroterrorism.--The term ``agroterrorism'' means the 
     commission of an agroterrorist act.
       (5) Agroterrorist act.--The term ``agroterrorist act'' 
     means a criminal act consisting of causing or attempting to 
     cause damage or harm to, or destruction or contamination of, 
     a crop, livestock, farm or ranch equipment, material or 
     property associated with agriculture, or a person engaged in 
     agricultural activity, that is committed with the intent--
       (A) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; or
       (B) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation 
     or coercion.
       (6) Biosecurity.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``biosecurity'' means protection 
     from the risks posed by biological, chemical, or radiological 
     agents to--
       (i) plant or animal health;
       (ii) the agricultural economy;
       (iii) the environment; or
       (iv) human health.
       (B) Inclusions.--The term ``biosecurity'' includes the 
     exclusion, eradication, and control of biological agents that 
     cause plant or animal diseases.
       (7) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the 
     meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
     Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
       (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Agriculture.
       (9) Tribal government.--The term ``tribal government'' 
     means the governing body of an Indian tribe.

     SEC. 3. STATE AND LOCAL ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Study.--
       (1) In general.--In consultation with the steering 
     committee of the National Animal Health Emergency Management 
     System and other stakeholders, the Secretary shall conduct a 
     study to--
       (A) determine the best use of epidemiologists, computer 
     modelers, and statisticians as members of emergency response 
     task forces that handle foreign or emerging agricultural 
     disease emergencies; and
       (B) identify the types of data that are necessary for 
     proper modeling and analysis of agricultural disease 
     emergencies.
       (2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report 
     that describes the results of the study under paragraph (1) 
     to--
       (A) the Secretary of Homeland Security; and
       (B) the head of any other agency involved in response 
     planning for agricultural disease emergencies.
       (b) Geographic Information System Grants.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
     Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of the 
     Interior, shall establish a program under which the Secretary 
     shall provide grants to States to develop capabilities to use 
     a geographic information system or statistical model for an 
     epidemiological assessment in the event of an agricultural 
     disease emergency.

[[Page S2390]]

       (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this subsection--
       (A) $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
       (B) such sums as are necessary for each subsequent fiscal 
     year.
       (c) Biosecurity Awareness and Programs.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall implement a public 
     awareness campaign for farmers, ranchers, and other 
     agricultural producers that emphasizes--
       (A) the need for heightened biosecurity on farms; and
       (B) reporting to the Department of Agriculture any 
     agricultural disease anomaly.
       (2) On-farm biosecurity.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 240 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with 
     associations of agricultural producers and taking into 
     consideration research conducted under the National 
     Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
     1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), shall--
       (i) develop guidelines--

       (I) to improve monitoring of vehicles and materials 
     entering or leaving farm or ranch operations; and
       (II) to control human traffic entering or leaving farm or 
     ranch operations; and

       (ii) distribute the guidelines developed under clause (i) 
     to agricultural producers through agricultural informational 
     seminars and biosecurity training sessions.
       (B) Authorization of appropriations.--
       (i) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this paragraph--

       (I) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
       (II) such sums as are necessary for each subsequent fiscal 
     year.

       (ii) Information program.--Of the amounts made available 
     under clause (i), the Secretary may use such sums as are 
     necessary to establish in each State an information program 
     to distribute the biosecurity guidelines developed under 
     subparagraph (A)(i).
       (3) Biosecurity grant pilot program.--
       (A) Incentives.--
       (i) In general.--Not later than 240 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a pilot 
     program to provide incentives, in the form of grants or low-
     interest loans, to agricultural producers to restructure farm 
     and ranch operations (based on the biosecurity guidelines 
     developed under paragraph (2)(A)(i)) to achieve the goals 
     described in clause (ii).
       (ii) Goals.--The goals referred to in clause (i) are--

       (I) to control access to farms and ranches by persons 
     intending to commit agroterrorist acts;
       (II) to prevent the introduction and spread of agricultural 
     diseases; and
       (III) to take other measures to ensure biosecurity.

       (iii) Limitation.--The amount of a grant or low-interest 
     loan provided under this paragraph shall not exceed $10,000.
       (B) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress 
     a report that--
       (i) describes the implementation of the pilot program; and
       (ii) makes recommendations for expanding the pilot program.
       (C) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph--
       (i) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
       (ii) such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 
     2007 through 2009.

     SEC. 4. REGIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL PREPAREDNESS.

       (a) Environmental Protection Agency.--The Administrator of 
     the Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the 
     Secretary, shall cooperate with regional, State, and local 
     disaster preparedness officials to include consideration of 
     the potential environmental effects of a response activity in 
     planning a response to an agricultural disease.
       (b) Department of Agriculture.--The Secretary, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall--
       (1) develop and implement procedures to provide information 
     to, and share information among, Federal, regional, State, 
     tribal, and local officials regarding agricultural threats, 
     risks, and vulnerabilities; and
       (2) cooperate with State agricultural officials, State and 
     local emergency managers, representatives from State land 
     grant colleges and research universities, agricultural 
     producers, and agricultural trade associations to establish 
     local response plans for agricultural diseases.

     SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.

       (a) Agricultural Disease Liaisons.--
       (1) Agricultural disease management liaison.--The Secretary 
     of Homeland Security shall establish a senior level position 
     within the Federal Emergency Management Agency the primary 
     responsibility of which is to serve as a liaison for 
     agricultural disease management between--
       (A) the Department of Homeland Security; and
       (B)(i) the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
       (ii) the Department of Agriculture;
       (iii) other Federal agencies responsible for a response to 
     an emergency relating to an agriculture disease;
       (iv) the emergency management community;
       (v) State emergency and agricultural officials;
       (vi) tribal governments; and
       (vii) industries affected by agricultural disease.
       (2) Animal health care liaison.--The Secretary of Health 
     and Human Services shall establish within the Department of 
     Health and Human Services a senior level position the primary 
     responsibility of which is to serve as a liaison between--
       (A) the Department of Health and Human Services; and
       (B)(i) the Department of Agriculture;
       (ii) the animal health community;
       (iii) the emergency management community;
       (iv) tribal governments; and
       (v) industries affected by agricultural disease.
       (b) Transportation.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation, in 
     consultation with the Secretary and the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security, shall--
       (A) publish in the Federal Register proposed guidelines for 
     restrictions on interstate transportation of an agricultural 
     commodity or product in response to an agricultural disease;
       (B) provide for a comment period of not less than 90 days 
     for the proposed guidelines; and
       (C) establish final guidelines, taking into consideration 
     any comment received under subparagraph (B); and
       (2) provide the guidelines described in paragraph (1) to 
     officers and employees of--
       (A) the Department of Agriculture;
       (B) the Department of Transportation; and
       (C) the Department of Homeland Security.

     SEC. 6. INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

       (a) International Agricultural Disease Surveillance.--Not 
     later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
     the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of State 
     and the Administrator of the Agency for International 
     Development, shall submit to Congress a report that describes 
     measures taken by the Secretary to--
       (1) streamline the process of notification by the Secretary 
     to Federal agencies in the event of an agricultural disease 
     in a foreign country; and
       (2) cooperate with representatives of foreign countries, 
     international organizations, and industry to develop and 
     implement methods of sharing information relating to 
     international agricultural diseases and unusual agricultural 
     activities.
       (b) Bilateral Mutual Assistance Agreements.--The Secretary 
     of State, in coordination with the Secretary and the 
     Secretary of Homeland Security, shall--
       (1) enter into mutual assistance agreements with other 
     countries to provide and receive assistance in the event of 
     an agricultural disease, including--
       (A) training for veterinarians and agriculture specialists 
     of the United States in the identification, diagnosis, and 
     control of foreign agricultural diseases;
       (B) providing resources and personnel to a foreign 
     government with limited resources to respond to an 
     agricultural disease; and
       (C) bilateral training programs and exercises relating to 
     assistance provided under this paragraph; and
       (2) provide funding for a program or exercise described in 
     paragraph (1)(C).

     SEC. 7. ADDITIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS.

       (a) Vaccines.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a study 
     of, and submit to Congress a report that describes, the 
     projected costs and benefits of developing ready-to-use 
     vaccines against foreign animal diseases.
       (b) Plant Disease Laboratory.--Not later than 270 days 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
     conduct a study of, and submit to Congress a report that 
     describes, the feasibility of establishing a national plant 
     disease laboratory based on the model of the Centers for 
     Disease Control and Prevention, the primary task of which is 
     to--
       (1) integrate and coordinate a nationwide system of 
     independent plant disease diagnostic laboratories, including 
     plant clinics maintained by land grant colleges and 
     universities; and
       (2) increase the capacity, technical infrastructure, and 
     information-sharing capabilities of laboratories described in 
     paragraph (1).

     SEC. 8. VETERINARIAN ACCREDITATION.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations requiring 
     that any veterinarian accredited by the Department of 
     Agriculture shall be trained to recognize foreign animal 
     diseases.

     SEC. 9. REVIEW OF LEGAL AUTHORITY.

       (a) In General.--The Attorney General, in consultation with 
     the Secretary, shall conduct a review of State and local laws 
     relating to agroterrorism and biosecurity to determine--
       (1) the extent to which the laws facilitate or impede the 
     implementation of a current or proposed response plan 
     relating to an agricultural disease;
       (2) whether an injunction issued by a State court could--
       (A) delay the implementation of a Federal response plan 
     described in paragraph (1); or
       (B) affect the extent to which an agricultural disease 
     spreads; and

[[Page S2391]]

       (3) the types and extent of legal evidence that may be 
     required by a State court before a response plan described in 
     paragraph (1) may be implemented.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit to 
     Congress a report that describes the results of the review 
     under subsection (a) (including any recommendations of the 
     Attorney General).
                                 ______