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Securing American Agriculture Act
4/29/2024, 6:00 PM
Summary of Bill HR 8003
One key aspect of the bill is the establishment of a task force dedicated to assessing and addressing vulnerabilities in the agricultural sector. This task force would be responsible for developing strategies to protect against potential threats such as bioterrorism, cyber attacks, and natural disasters.
Additionally, the Securing American Agriculture Act seeks to improve coordination between federal, state, and local agencies involved in agricultural security. This would involve enhancing information sharing and communication to ensure a more cohesive and effective response to any threats that may arise. The bill also includes provisions for increasing funding for research and development in agricultural security, as well as for providing training and resources to farmers and other stakeholders in the agricultural industry. Overall, the Securing American Agriculture Act aims to strengthen the resilience of the nation's agricultural sector and ensure the continued safety and security of the food supply. It represents a bipartisan effort to address potential threats and vulnerabilities in this critical area of the economy.
Congressional Summary of HR 8003
Securing American Agriculture Act
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assess, on an annual basis, U.S. dependency on critical agricultural products or inputs that could be exploited in the event that China weaponizes such a dependency. USDA must submit a report to Congress on the assessment, which must include recommendations to reduce U.S. dependency on China to supply critical agricultural products or inputs.
Under the bill, critical inputs include all farm management, agronomic, and field-applied production inputs (e.g., agricultural equipment, fertilizers, veterinary drugs, and seed).
The bill specifies that, in conducting the assessment, USDA may not require a private entity to provide information to USDA. Further, the bill requires USDA to comply with certain confidentiality requirements and restricts disclosures of the information.
