Homeland Security for Agriculture Subject of Funding

May 31, 2002

Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman says USDA is releasing more than $43 million in state grants and cooperative agreements to bolster food and agricultural homeland security. The resources are part of $328 million approved by President Bush and Congress earlier this year to strengthen USDA's homeland security preparedness.

The $43 million will provide funding to strengthen the food supply infrastructure. Of that, $20.6 million will be provided to our state and university cooperators to be used to establish a network of diagnostic laboratories disbursed strategically throughout the nation to permit rapid and accurate diagnosis of animal disease threats; $14 million will be used to strengthen state capabilities to respond to animal disease emergencies, primarily by helping every state to meet the national standards of emergency preparedness established by the National Animal Health Emergency Management System; $4.5 million will be used to strengthen state-level surveillance for animal disease; and $4.3 million will be used to assist states to improve their capability to detect plant pests and diseases.

Earlier this year, Veneman announced additional homeland security allocations by USDA which included $177 million to make physical and operational security improvements at key USDA locations. This provides $64 million at the animal disease center in Ames, IA, to relocate labs from leased space into the main Ames campus and includes funds for a new facility for sensitive diagnostic work, which will be completed in 18 months.