Creation of New Homeland Security Department Gets the Go-Ahead

Washington, D.C. (November 20, 2002) – The Bush Administration now has congressional approval to establish a Department of Homeland Security. The Senate passed final legislation Tuesday evening and the House passed the legislation last week.

“The bill signifies the importance of agriculture to our economy and homeland security efforts,” says Chandler Keys, vice president of Government Affairs at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). “Cattle producers should be pleased with the outcome of this effort. Since the new department was first proposed, we have led agriculture coalitions to assure that the needs of cattle producers are not overlooked.”

The original plan for a Department of Homeland Security proposed moving the entire Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) out of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the new department. This was the most prevalent issue of concern for members of the livestock industry.

The bill transfers only the functions and employees of the APHIS Border Inspection Program over to the new department. Preventing the introduction of foreign animal diseases and pests into the U.S. and monitoring imports and exports are crucial to cattle production. The authorities for the border inspections will remain at USDA with close coordination between USDA and the Department of Homeland Security to make sure those authorities are carried out properly.

“We are glad that both the House and the Senate have listened to our recommendations about the transfer of APHIS,” says Leah Becker, associate director of Food Policy at NCBA. “The responsibilities of APHIS are multifaceted, and some are certainly about homeland security, while some can be described as non-homeland security focused. We want these major responsibilities — such as the operation of surveillance, control and eradication programs for domestic cattle diseases like brucellosis and tuberculosis, and the responsibility of conducting approvals of vaccines and biologics — to remain a high priority within APHIS.”

The bill also transfers ownership of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center from USDA to the Department of Homeland Security.  The Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of Homeland Security must work out a cooperative agreement to allow USDA to remain on the island and carry out their research and diagnostic activities if they choose to.

NCBA is leading a coalition of animal and plant agriculture groups in an effort to facilitate information-sharing on this vital issue of homeland security. NCBA testified before the House Ag Committee in response to the President’s proposed Department of Homeland Security, and had months of meetings and roundtable discussions with key industry representatives and congressional staff members about the move of APHIS to the Homeland Security Department. 

“We really managed the change -- we were the only group that got a full briefing from Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge at the White House,” says Keys. “We will continue to be a frontrunner in responding to and addressing major agricultural issues encountered in relation to the Homeland Security Department. This is a priority, and we will work together to keep an open dialogue between the White House, USDA and Congress.”

This new department generates the largest government reorganization since the 1940’s. About 170,000 employees from 22 agencies will be folded into this new department.

“Agriculture groups are integral players in the development of the proposed department,” says Keys. “This is a vital move by the President to protect our homeland.  Cattlemen still have an active and vocal role in managing this move."

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