[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 131, 115th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 115-43
115th Congress

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. <>

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 ``Securing our Agriculture and Food
Act''.
SEC. 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:
``SEC. 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,

[[Page 885]]

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 or the Secretary of Health and Human Services.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended--
(1) by striking the items relating to sections 523, 524,
525, 526, and 527; and
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 522 the
following:

``Sec. 523. Guidance and recommendations.
``Sec. 524. Voluntary private sector preparedness accreditation and
certification program.
``Sec. 525. Acceptance of gifts.
``Sec. 526. Integrated public alert and warning system modernization.
``Sec. 527. National planning and education.
``Sec. 528. Coordination of Department of Homeland Security efforts
related to food, agriculture, and veterinary defense against
terrorism.''.

Approved June 30, 2017.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1238 (S. 500):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115-42, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Homeland Security).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 115-29 (Comm. on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs) accompanying S. 500.
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017):
Mar. 22, considered and passed House.
May 24, considered and passed Senate, amended.
June 20, House concurred in Senate amendments.