The U.S. Senate has passed the Protecting America’s Food and Agriculture Act of 2019. The measure addresses the shortage of agricultural inspectors and adds additional support staff and canine teams to fully staff airports, seaports and ports of entry. Nebraska Pork Producers Association President Tim Chancellor says the bill helps protect against foreign animal diseases coming into the U.S.

He says the bill is species specific and is a comprehensive measure that protects both producers and consumers.

Chancellor says the legislation annually authorizes the training and assignment of 20 new canine teams, the hiring of 240 agricultural specialists and 200 agricultural technicians a year until the workforce is filled.

On a typical day, inspectors process more than 1 million passengers and 78,000 truck, rail and sea containers carrying goods worth approximately $7.2 billion. The current inspector shortage is at 700.