Last week, Congress introduced a bi-partisan bill entitled “The Foreign Animal Disease Prevention Surveillance and Rapid Response Act of 2023.”  Both the National Cattlemen Beef Association and the National Pork Producers Council endorse the bill.  Among others, the bill was introduced in the Senate by Senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and Joni Ernst of Iowa.  In the House of Representatives, Angie Craig of Minnesota and Don Bacon of Nebraska helped sponsor the bill.  The Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance and Rapid Response Act would provide additional funding for three important animal health programs established through the 2018 Farm Bill.  Ben Nuelle, the Public Policy Director with the Iowa Pork Producers Association comments on the proposed legislation.

Beth Thompson is the South Dakota State Veterinarian.  She says the bill has three components of which all are important in preventing foreign ag diseases from entering the U-S and spreading.

Thompson says all three components are important to preventing any foreign animal disease from spreading in the U-S.

Thompson says the funding is essential to keep African Swine Fever and Foot and Mouth diseases from U-S borders and infecting U-S livestock herds.