IIB 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1238 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 23, 2017 

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and 

Governmental Affairs 

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. 


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HR 1238 RFS

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Securing our Agri5 culture and Food Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. COORDINATION OF FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND VET7 ERINARY DEFENSE AGAINST TERRORISM. 

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

9 Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 311 et seq.) is amended by adding 

10 at the end the following new section: 

11 ‘‘SEC. 528. COORDINATION OF DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

12 SECURITY EFFORTS RELATED TO FOOD, AG13 RICULTURE, AND VETERINARY DEFENSE 

14 AGAINST TERRORISM. 

15 ‘‘(a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary, acting 

16 through the Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs, shall 

17 carry out a program to coordinate the Department’s ef18 forts related to defending the food, agriculture, and veteri19 nary systems of the United States against terrorism and 

20 other high-consequence events that pose a high risk to 

21 homeland security. 

22 ‘‘(b) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—The coordination pro23 gram required by subsection (a) shall include, at a min24 imum, the following: 


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HR 1238 RFS

1 ‘‘(1) Providing oversight and management of 

2 the Department’s responsibilities pursuant to Home3 land Security Presidential Directive 9–Defense of 

4 United States Agriculture and Food. 

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

6 Department’s activities related to veterinary public 

7 health, food defense, and agricultural security. 

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

9 relating to food, animal, and agricultural incidents, 

10 and the impact of such incidents on animal and pub11 lic health. 

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

13 relating to overall domestic preparedness for and col14 lective response to agricultural terrorism. 

15 ‘‘(5) Coordinating with other Department com16 ponents, including U.S. Customs and Border Protec17 tion, as appropriate, on activities related to food and 

18 agriculture security and screening procedures for do19 mestic and imported products. 

20 ‘‘(6) Coordinating with appropriate Federal de21 partments and agencies. 

22 ‘‘(7) Other activities as determined necessary 

23 by the Secretary. 

24 ‘‘(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec25 tion may be construed as altering or superseding the auVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:05 Mar 23, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1238.RFS H1238

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HR 1238 RFS

1 thority of the Secretary of Agriculture relating to food and 

2 agriculture.’’. 

3 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 

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

5 amended by inserting after the item relating to section 

6 527 the following new item: 

‘‘Sec. 528. Coordination of Department of Homeland Security efforts related to 

food, agriculture, and veterinary defense against terrorism.’’. 

Passed the House of Representatives March 22, 

2017. 

Attest: KAREN L. HAAS, 

Clerk. 


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