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[115th Congress Public Law 43]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

[[Page 131 STAT. 884]]

Public Law 115-43
115th Congress

                                 An Act

 
    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, agriculture, and veterinary defense against terrorism, and for 
         other purposes. <<NOTE: June 30, 2017 -  [H.R. 1238]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Securing our 
Agriculture and Food Act. 6 USC 101 note.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Securing our Agriculture and Food 
Act''.
SEC. 2. COORDINATION OF FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND VETERINARY DEFENSE 
                    AGAINST TERRORISM.

    (a) In General.--Title V of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 311 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:
``SEC. 528. <<NOTE: 6 USC 321q.>>  COORDINATION OF DEPARTMENT OF 
                        HOMELAND SECURITY EFFORTS RELATED TO FOOD, 
                        AGRICULTURE, AND VETERINARY DEFENSE 
                        AGAINST TERRORISM.

    ``(a) Program Required.--The Secretary, acting through the Assistant 
Secretary for Health Affairs, shall carry out a program to coordinate 
the Department's efforts related to defending the food, agriculture, and 
veterinary systems of the United States against terrorism and other 
high-consequence events that pose a high risk to homeland security.
    ``(b) Program Elements.--The coordination program required by 
subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, the following:
            ``(1) Providing oversight and management of the Department's 
        responsibilities pursuant to Homeland Security Presidential 
        Directive 9-Defense of United States Agriculture and Food.
            ``(2) Providing oversight and integration of the 
        Department's activities related to veterinary public health, 
        food defense, and agricultural security.
            ``(3) Leading the Department's policy initiatives relating 
        to food, animal, and agricultural incidents, and the impact of 
        such incidents on animal and public health.
            ``(4) Leading the Department's policy initiatives relating 
        to overall domestic preparedness for and collective response to 
        agricultural terrorism.
            ``(5) Coordinating with other Department components, 
        including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as appropriate,

[[Page 131 STAT. 885]]

        on activities related to food and agriculture security and 
        screening procedures for domestic and imported products.
            ``(6) Coordinating with appropriate Federal departments and 
        agencies.
            ``(7) Other activities as determined necessary by the 
        Secretary.

    ``(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
construed as altering or superseding the authority of the Secretary of 
Agriculture or the Secretary of Health and Human Services.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended--
            (1) by striking the items relating to sections 523, 524, 
        525, 526, and 527; and
            (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 522 the 
        following:

``Sec. 523. Guidance and recommendations.
``Sec. 524. Voluntary private sector preparedness accreditation and 
           certification program.
``Sec. 525. Acceptance of gifts.
``Sec. 526. Integrated public alert and warning system modernization.
``Sec. 527. National planning and education.
``Sec. 528. Coordination of Department of Homeland Security efforts 
           related to food, agriculture, and veterinary defense against 
           terrorism.''.

    Approved June 30, 2017.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1238 (S. 500):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115-42, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Homeland Security).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 115-29 (Comm. on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs) accompanying S. 500.
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017):
            Mar. 22, considered and passed House.
            May 24, considered and passed Senate, amended.
            June 20, House concurred in Senate amendments.

                                  <all>
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