Bill for Animal Compensation Introduced

June 5, 2001

Two members of the House Agriculture Committee have introduced a bill May 24 designed to prevent the introduction and spread of animal diseases and compensate owners of livestock, product and facilities should the disease ever reach the United States. The bill, introduced by House Livestock and Horticulture Subcommittee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA) and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN).

The bill, H.R.2002, would consolidate and revise the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to prevent the introduction and spread of infectious animal diseases. Should owners of livestock, products and facilities be required to destroy animals as a result of a seizure or quarantine to detect and/or eradicate such a disease, they would be compensated under this bill.