I

115TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1238
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make the Assistant Sec-
retary of Homeland Security for Health Affairs responsible for coordi-
nating the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security related to
food, agriculture, and veterinary defense against terrorism, and for other
purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 28, 2017
Mr. YOUNG of Iowa (for himself, Mr. PAYNE, and Mr. DONOVAN) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Se-
curity, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and
Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the juris-
diction of the committee concerned

A BILL
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make
the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Health
Affairs responsible for coordinating the efforts of the
Department of Homeland Security related to food, agri-
culture, and veterinary defense against terrorism, and
for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-

2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

2 This Act may be cited as the Securing our Agri-

3 culture and Food Act.
4 SEC. 2. COORDINATION OF FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND VET-

5 ERINARY DEFENSE AGAINST TERRORISM.

6 (a) IN GENERAL.Title V of the Homeland Security

7 Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 311 et seq.) is amended by adding
8 at the end the following new section:
9 SEC. 528. COORDINATION OF DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND

10 SECURITY EFFORTS RELATED TO FOOD, AG-

11 RICULTURE, AND VETERINARY DEFENSE

12 AGAINST TERRORISM.

13 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.The Secretary, acting

14 through the Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs, shall
15 carry out a program to coordinate the Departments ef-
16 forts related to defending the food, agriculture, and veteri-
17 nary systems of the United States against terrorism and
18 other high-consequence events that pose a high risk to
19 homeland security.
20 (b) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.The coordination pro-
21 gram required by subsection (a) shall include, at a min-
22 imum, the following:
23 (1) Providing oversight and management of
24 the Departments responsibilities pursuant to Home-
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25 land Security Presidential Directive 9Defense of

26 United States Agriculture and Food.
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1 (2) Providing oversight and integration of the
2 Departments activities related to veterinary public
3 health, food defense, and agricultural security.
4 (3) Leading the Departments policy initiatives
5 relating to food, animal, and agricultural incidents,
6 and the impact of such incidents on animal and pub-
7 lic health.
8 (4) Leading the Departments policy initiatives
9 relating to overall domestic preparedness for and col-
10 lective response to agricultural terrorism.
11 (5) Coordinating with other Department com-
12 ponents, including U.S. Customs and Border Protec-
13 tion, as appropriate, on activities related to food and
14 agriculture security and screening procedures for do-
15 mestic and imported products.
16 (6) Coordinating with appropriate Federal de-
17 partments and agencies.
18 (7) Other activities as determined necessary
19 by the Secretary.
20 (c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.Nothing in this sec-
21 tion may be construed as altering or superseding the au-
22 thority of the Secretary of Agriculture relating to food and
23 agriculture..
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24 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.The table of contents

25 in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is

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1 amended by inserting after the item relating to section
2 527 the following new item:
Sec. 528. Coordination of Department of Homeland Security efforts related to
food, agriculture, and veterinary defense against terrorism..

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