[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 17, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9475-S9477]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BURR (for himself and Ms. Collins):
  S. 1804. A bill to enhance the ability of the United States to 
prevent, prepare for, detect, and respond to agriculture and food 
emergencies; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs.
  Mr. BURR. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the National 
Agriculture and Food Defense Act of 2007, which I introduced today 
along with the Senator from Maine, Senator Collins. This bill will help 
the Nation better prepare for, detect, respond to, and recover from an 
agro-terror attack or deliberate food contamination. I thank my 
distinguished colleague from Maine for her leadership on homeland 
security issues and for her support of this important legislation.
  Our agriculture and food system is an important part of our Nation's 
economy and our national security. As we increase our dependence on 
agriculture not only to provide our food supply but to also produce 
energy, we must ensure we can identify security vulnerabilities, fix 
those vulnerabilities, respond to and recover from a deliberate attack 
or catastrophic accidental or natural contamination.
  The Nation's agriculture and food system remains vulnerable. The 
system is open, complex, interconnected, and diverse, which makes it a 
target. Many farms are geographically isolated with few biosecurity 
measures in place. And livestock is frequently concentrated in confined 
spaces. For example, 80 to 90 percent of U.S. cattle production is 
concentrated in less than 5 percent of the nation's feedlots. An attack 
on just one part of the production process could set off a devastating 
domino effect felt through our entire food system, causing economic 
loss and effects on human health.
  Biological weapons and poisons in food and animals have been used in 
attacks in the past. During World War I, German operatives allegedly 
infected horses with anthrax before they were shipped to Europe. In 
1984, a cult in Oregon spread salmonella in salad bars at restaurants 
to influence a local election. More recently, documents found in al 
Qaeda hideouts in Afghanistan described how to make animal and plant 
poisons, evidence that agriculture and food continue to be prospective 
targets for terrorist organizations.
  We have two main concerns when contemplating a deliberate attack on 
our agriculture and food system, the potentially devastating economic 
impacts, and the possible human health effects.
  For example, studies show a single agro-terrorist attack on our 
livestock industry could cost the U.S. economy $10 to $33 billion. The 
United Kingdom's Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in 2001 caused 
approximately $5 billion in losses to the agriculture and food sector, 
and U.S. beef exports plunged when 119 countries instituted bans on 
American beef after ``mad

[[Page S9476]]

cow'' disease was found in a U.S. herd in 2003. The U.S. Department of 
Agriculture estimates the annual cost to the country from premature 
deaths caused by just one common food-borne illness, salmonella, is 
over $2 billion.
  Many infectious diseases affect both humans and animals, and a 
significant number of those diseases cross over between the two 
different populations. In fact, 75 percent of emerging diseases affect 
both animals and humans, and 5 out of 6 agents of greatest concern for 
bioterrorism are ``zoonotic''. We are all aware of the global threat of 
H5Nl bird flu, a zoonotic disease that to date has infected 317 people, 
and killed 191. In order to protect the human and animal health of the 
United States, we must develop a unified human and veterinary approach 
against infectious disease that anticipates disease evolution and acts 
quickly.

  In addition to transmissible diseases carried by animals, the health 
of U.S. citizens is vulnerable to an attack because food systems can 
become delivery mechanisms for diseases and poisonous agents, and a 
highly contagious animal disease could seriously disrupt the food 
supply. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 76 
million Americans get sick each year, more than 300,000 are 
hospitalized, and 5,000 die from naturally occurring foodborne 
illnesses. A deliberate attack could be catastrophic.
  In the National Agriculture and Food Defense Act of 2007, we take 
five key actions to better prepare the nation for an attack on our 
agriculture and food system.
  First, the bill puts someone in charge. Consistent with Homeland 
Security Presidential Directive 9, the Defense of the United States 
Agriculture and Food, issued by President Bush in January 2004, the 
bill identifies the Secretary of Homeland Security as the lead 
coordinator of Federal Government efforts to protect critical 
infrastructure and key resources, including the agriculture and food 
system in case of a national emergency. The Secretary of Agriculture 
remains responsible for agriculture, as well as meat, poultry, and egg 
food products; and the Secretary of Health and Human Services is 
responsible for food products other than meat, poultry, and egg 
products. The bill also establishes an Under Secretary for Protection, 
Preparedness, and Response position at the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture to lead and coordinate USDA activities relating to 
agriculture and food defense.
  Second, the bill requires a coordinated national strategy for 
protecting our agriculture and food system. The Department of Homeland 
Security, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Health 
and Human Services are required to work together to develop a 
coordinated national strategy for agriculture and food emergency 
preparedness, detection, response and recovery. This will ensure the 
Federal Government identifies specific achievable goals and constantly 
strives to improve our preparedness.
  Third, this legislation provides guidance, assistance, and financial 
support from the Federal Government to States by improving regional 
agriculture and food defense continuity of business planning; by 
training State personnel on food defense; and by improving 
communication and coordination between States and the Federal 
Government by hiring State agriculture and food defense liaison 
officers.
  Being from a large agriculture State, I know my State and many others 
are potential targets for a deliberate attack on our agriculture and 
food system. At $68 billion in revenues each year, agriculture is North 
Carolina's largest industry. North Carolina is the second highest 
producer of hogs and turkeys in the nation, and number five in 
broilers. States, such as North Carolina, will benefit greatly from 
additional resources, coordination and planning.
  Federal, State, local governments and the private sector together 
have a responsibility to defend and protect the agriculture and food 
system through a layered defense established at each level of 
government. States are the first responders in the event of a suspected 
food contamination, animal disease or plant pest outbreak, and the 
Federal Government must help States build the capabilities to prevent, 
detect, respond to, and recover from a catastrophic animal disease 
outbreak or food contamination. It is important to note that this 
legislation maintains the authority of States to oversee food and 
agriculture within their jurisdiction and to implement food safety 
standards. The bill does not affect USDA or the Food and Drug 
Administration's ability or authority to establish and enforce food 
safety standards.
  Fourth, the bill enhances public-private partnerships. The majority 
of our agriculture and food system is privately owned and operated. 
This legislation authorizes Government and private sector coordinating 
councils to improve information sharing between Government and private 
sector partners.
  Finally, the National Agriculture and Food Defense Act implements 
early detection of, and rapid response to animal disease outbreaks and 
food-related emergencies. The bill authorizes and integrates Nation-
wide animal, plant, and food diagnostic laboratory networks, and 
develops onsite rapid diagnostic tools, to speed up the detection of 
animal and food-related emergencies. To rapidly respond to infectious 
diseases, the bill authorizes a stockpile of animal vaccines and drugs 
that can be deployed to an outbreak within 24 hours.
  In closing, I thank Senator Collins for sponsoring the National 
Agriculture and Food Defense Act with me. We Are taking a decisive step 
forward today towards improving and protecting the Nation's agriculture 
and food system. I would also like to thank all the experts from across 
the country who worked with my staff to develop this legislation, 
particularly the individuals in North Carolina who have dedicated their 
lives to this mission. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation 
and I look forward to working with them on this important national 
security issue.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the 
National Agriculture and Food Defense Act of 2007 that my distinguished 
colleague, Senator Burr, and I are introducing today.
  A decade ago, the General Accounting Office report illustrated the 
danger of lapses in food safety, a single-year toll of millions of 
cases of food-borne illnesses and 9,100 food-related deaths. I 
conducted a series of investigative hearings in 1998 that confirmed 
America faced significant risks from tainted food imports.
  In 2003, I also chaired a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing 
that pointed out new threats. I noted that al-Qaida had announced that 
the U.S. economy was a target, that hundreds of U.S. agricultural 
documents had been found translated into Arabic, and that some of the 
9/11 terrorists had investigated using crop-dusting planes as weapons 
of agroterrorism.
  Today, food security problems persist, and their potential for death 
and disruption has been greatly magnified by the terrorist threats 
against the United States. Ensuring the safety of our food must include 
considerations of homeland security.
  We have all heard the recent news stories of contamination involving 
food and toothpaste imported from China. But the concerns extend 
far beyond anyone trading partner. Food and Drug Administration data 
for 2006 show that hundreds of shipments from India, Mexico, Denmark, 
the Dominican Republic, and other countries were impounded for defects 
or safety concerns. Considering that the vast majority of incoming food 
shipments are not inspected, these facts are troubling. Even more 
troubling, we must consider how much worse the potential impacts could 
be if large-scale deliberate contamination were attempted, whether by 
attacks on domestically produced food or imports or the distribution, 
production, and processing systems.

  Congress has recognized the threats to our seaports, chemical 
facilities, transportation, and critical infrastructure. We have acted 
to protect these vital systems that sustain our economy. We must also 
extend our homeland security vigilance to the food that sustains our 
very lives.
  The National Agriculture and Food Defense Act would integrate and 
strengthen the federal government's ability to promote food security. 
With the Department of Homeland Security in a directing role, and with 
sector-specific leadership roles for the Departments of Agriculture and 
Health and Human Services, the bill would provide

[[Page S9477]]

a coherent National Agriculture and Food Defense Strategy consistent 
with our national emergency management plans.
  As Congress has already provided in other areas, the national food 
security strategy would address preparedness, mitigation, response, and 
recovery. Its provisions for stockpiling veterinary supplies and 
establishing a plant-disease recovery program would add vital new 
Federal capabilities. Coordination of Federal food security budget 
activity and outreach State, local, and private sector stakeholders are 
also important features of the bill.
  In light of the gravity of the threat to our food security and this 
measure's thoughtful and promising response to that threat, I encourage 
my colleagues to support expeditious action on this bill.
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