I 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1238 

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. 

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 Security, 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 jurisdiction 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, agriculture, and veterinary defense against terrorism, and 

for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 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 Agri3 culture and Food Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. COORDINATION OF FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND VET5 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, AG11 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 Department’s ef16 forts related to defending the food, agriculture, and veteri17 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 pro21 gram required by subsection (a) shall include, at a min22 imum, the following: 

23 ‘‘(1) Providing oversight and management of 

24 the Department’s responsibilities pursuant to Home25 land Security Presidential Directive 9–Defense of 

26 United States Agriculture and Food. 


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1 ‘‘(2) Providing oversight and integration of the 

2 Department’s activities related to veterinary public 

3 health, food defense, and agricultural security. 

4 ‘‘(3) Leading the Department’s policy initiatives 

5 relating to food, animal, and agricultural incidents, 

6 and the impact of such incidents on animal and pub7 lic health. 

8 ‘‘(4) Leading the Department’s policy initiatives 

9 relating to overall domestic preparedness for and col10 lective response to agricultural terrorism. 

11 ‘‘(5) Coordinating with other Department com12 ponents, including U.S. Customs and Border Protec13 tion, as appropriate, on activities related to food and 

14 agriculture security and screening procedures for do15 mestic and imported products. 

16 ‘‘(6) Coordinating with appropriate Federal de17 partments and agencies. 

18 ‘‘(7) Other activities as determined necessary 

19 by the Secretary. 

20 ‘‘(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec21 tion may be construed as altering or superseding the au22 thority of the Secretary of Agriculture relating to food and 

23 agriculture.’’. 

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.’’. 

Æ 


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