Livestock producer trade groups, including the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI), recently offered their support for the Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance and Rapid Response Act of 2023 (H.R. 3419 and S. 1666). The bipartisan and bicameral legislation would continue making critical investments in foreign animal disease response programs currently overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
ASI President Brad Boner of Wyoming said, “Funding the Animal Health Protection Act is vital to protecting the American sheep flock from the threat of foot-and-mouth disease.” He said “Investing in the programs funded by the act, such as the national vaccine bank and animal disease preparedness planning, are critical for preventing FMD from entering the United States and minimizing the impacts on the American sheep industry if an FMD outbreak were to happen.”
The bill was introduced in the Senate by Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, John Cornyn of Texas, and Joni Ernst from Iowa. In the House it was introduced by Reps. Ronny Jackson of Texas, Angie Craig from Minnesota, Jim Costa of California, Don Bacon of Nebraska and Don Davis from North Carolina.