Lucas Introduces Bioterrorism Bill

November 16, 2001

Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) has introduced an agriculture bioterrorism bill seeking to address concerns of potential terrorist attacks on the nation's food supply. The bill (H.R. 3293) allows for closer monitoring of food imports, increased research on animal and plant diseases that could be used by terrorists to sabotage the food supply, and encourages coordination among universities, bioterrorism experts, and law enforcement on the research and investigation of potential bioterrorism threats.

The bill authorizes $870 million in research upgrades at USDA facilities working on potential threats to the food supply, such as animal and agriculture research labs, and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service facilities. "These labs have labored in obscurity for years, but the new world we live in brings their important work onto the front burner," Lucas said.

"We're strengthening the ability of these facilities to conduct research on naturally occurring pathogens as well as man-made pathogens. This research could allow us to contain any potential threats, as well as develop cures."

The bill also would create a "consortium for countermeasures against agricultural bioterrorism" -- a coalition of university experts and federal agencies working together to address agricultural bioterrorism threats and procedures. "It just makes sense to bring together the university experts, who best understand the scientific aspects of these threats to our food supply, and the law enforcement officials, who have the best information on which threats the terrorists may attempt in the future," Lucas said.

Another provision of Lucas' bill is the creation of competitive grants for bioterrorism research to be awarded researchers focused on the science and technology needed to protect against and deal with acts of bioterrorism on our nation's food supply.

APHIS would be expanded under the bill, along with the Food Safety Inspection Service. It would increase APHIS' inspection and surveillance capacity at our nation's borders and points of entry. It would also help APHIS protect against introduction of plant or animal diseases by terrorists, and help deal with potential outbreaks.

The bill would enhance the Food Safety Inspection Service's efforts to inspect the domestic meat and poultry supply as well those products at U.S. ports of entry. "We will continue the inspections of our food supply that are already in place," Lucas said. "But this bill will help coordinate the different inspection services at the borders and help them implement the latest technologies."