GOP members introduce legislation to create USDA intelligence office

Several Republicans on March 9 cosponsored legislation that would establish the Office of Intelligence in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure American agriculture is safe from all threats both foreign and domestic.

U.S. Reps. Mike Turner (R-OH), Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Troy Balderson (R-OH) are among 10 original cosponsors who joined bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR) to introduce the Agricultural Intelligence Measures (AIM) Act, H.R. 1625.

“Securing our nation’s food system is a critical component of our nation’s overall security,” Rep. Wenstrup said. “This legislation would bolster our efforts to protect our agricultural security, prevent foreign efforts to steal U.S. intellectual property and innovation, and secure the overall health and safety of the American people.”

H.R. 1625 would establish a highly specialized USDA intelligence office that would work to uncover any efforts to steal U.S. agriculture knowledge and technology and to develop or implement biological warfare attacks, cyber or clandestine operations, or other means of sabotaging and disrupting the U.S. agriculture industry, according to information provided by the lawmakers. 

“The Secretary of Agriculture must be prepared to overcome domestic or foreign threats to our agriculture systems, including any efforts by foreign governments to steal U.S. agriculture and technology or target our food supply by producing a pathogenic threat,” said Rep. Turner. 

“Having served as a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and as a representative for hardworking Ohio farmers,” he added, “I know that this legislation will take a critical step to protect our farmers, our food supply, and our nation.”