Roberts, Young take lead on legislation to protect U.S. food supply against terrorism threats

Bicameral and bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) and U.S. Rep. David Young (R-IA) would address the threat of a terrorist attack that could jeopardize the nation’s food supply, potentially leading to widespread illness and economic damage.

The Securing our Agriculture and Food Act would require the assistant secretary of Homeland Security for Health Affairs to coordinate the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to secure the nation’s food supply, agriculture and veterinary systems against threats from terrorism and other high-risk events.

“The Securing our Agriculture and Food Act is a vital step to protect our food supply and agriculture industries in Iowa from high-risk events and agro-terrorism,” Young said. It is imperative that families and communities always have confidence the food produced by the nation’s growers is protected, he added.

The measure would also authorize the DHS secretary to work with other agencies to ensure that food supply, agriculture, and animal and human health are integrated into DHS domestic preparedness initiatives.

“I have introduced this legislation in the Senate because it reiterates the important and necessary role of the DHS in the agro-terrorism space,” Roberts, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, said.

“As DHS continues to build the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kan., now is the exact time to shore up authorities regarding coordination and mitigation should the worst occur and the nation is hit by a biological attack on our food and agriculture. As former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I understand the unique threat our farmers and ranchers face. As the backbone of the U.S. economy, the spread of any deadly pathogen among our livestock and plant population would cause irreparable damage,” Roberts said.

U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY), the chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications, said enemies are intent on carrying out attacks that exploit the nation’s resources and vulnerabilities, including food supply.

“Threats to U.S food, agriculture, and livestock industries could devastate our food system, impacting millions of Americans, as well as our economy,” Donovan said. “This bill is essential to enhancing agro-terrorism preparedness and emergency response measures, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass this legislation.”