[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 139 (Friday, September 25, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H6232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 AVIAN INFLUENZA AND GEORGIA'S EFFORTS

  (Mr. COLLINS of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention 
to the importance of the poultry industry to Georgia and the issue of 
highly pathogenic avian influenza.
  Georgia is the Nation's leading poultry-producing State, and my 
hometown of Gainesville proudly claims the title of ``chicken capital 
of the world.'' The poultry industry is critical to the Ninth District 
of Georgia and the State as a whole. The jobs of 138,000 Georgians 
depend on the poultry industry, and poultry represents almost half of 
Georgia's entire agriculture sector.
  Given the scale and importance of the industry to Georgia, it is 
critically important that adequate attention is paid to the potential 
threat of bird flu. We saw the devastating impact of a highly 
pathogenic AI outbreak earlier this year. It was the worst animal 
disease outbreak in U.S. history. Now, with birds migrating south for 
the winter, we have to face the prospect of a disease striking the 
poultry industry again.
  Mr. Speaker, APHIS has released a fall plan, and I understand that 
USDA has been in touch with State governments. But we must do more than 
simply conceptualize a response. We need to take proactive steps to 
prevent the spread and severity of high-path AI.
  I want to commend Commissioner Black and the Georgia Department of 
Agriculture for their dedication to preparing for a potential outbreak 
and the commitment of thousands of Georgians who depend on the poultry 
industry.
  I am calling on all agencies to work closely with Georgia and 
implement meaningful measures in coordination with State needs and 
recommendations. We need to shorten response time, install biosecurity 
measures, and work to prevent or reduce future outbreaks. We simply 
cannot wait to act. Steps must be taken now to mitigate damages to this 
industry that is so vital to the economy in northeast Georgia.

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