Homeland Security Will Work with USDA/APHIS

The Bush administration now has congressional approval to establish a Department of Homeland Security.  “The bill signifies the importance of agriculture to our economy and homeland security efforts,” says Chandler Keys, vice president of Government Affairs at 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 proposed moving the entire Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) out of USDA and into the new department. This was the biggest concern for 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 United States 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 that work is 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 multi-faceted, 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 Homeland Security.  The secretaries of Agriculture and  Homeland Security must work out an agreement to allow USDA to remain on the island and carry out its research and diagnostic activities if the department so  chooses.

 NCBA testified before the House Ag Committee in response to the President’s proposed Department of Homeland Security, and had months of meetings with key industry representatives and congressional staff about the proposed move of APHIS to Homeland Security.