I 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5105 

To establish a Chief Veterinary Officer in the Department of Homeland 

Security, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 21, 2010 

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama (for himself, Ms. KILROY, Mr. KING of New York, 

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. MCCAUL, Ms. CLARKE, and Mr. CARNEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on 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 establish a Chief Veterinary Officer in the Department 

of Homeland Security, 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, 

3 SECTION 1. CHIEF VETERINARY OFFICER OF DEPARTMENT 

4 OF HOMELAND SECURITY. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Title III of the Homeland Secu6 rity Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) is amended by 

7 adding at the end the following new section: 


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1 ‘‘SEC. 317. CHIEF VETERINARY OFFICER. 

2 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is in the Department a 

3 Chief Veterinary Officer, who shall be appointed by the 

4 Secretary. The Chief Veterinary Officer shall report di5 rectly to the Chief Medical Officer, unless an individual 

6 other than the Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs is 

7 serving as the Chief Medical Officer, in which case the 

8 Chief Veterinary Officer shall report directly to the Assist9 ant Secretary for Health Affairs. 

10 ‘‘(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—The individual appointed as 

11 Chief Veterinary Officer shall be a veterinarian who pos12 sesses a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of veteri13 nary public health and emergency preparedness, and other 

14 professional experience as determined by the Secretary, 

15 such as in agriculture, food defense, and disaster medi16 cine. 

17 ‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Chief Veterinary Offi18 cer shall be the head of the division of the Department 

19 with primary responsibility for veterinary issues, food de20 fense, and agriculture security, and shall have primary re21 sponsibility within the Department for responsibilities re22 lating to veterinary medicine and veterinary public health, 

23 including each of the following: 

24 ‘‘(1) Serving as the principal authority in the 

25 Department responsible for advising the Secretary, 

26 in coordination with the Assistant Secretary for 


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1 Health Affairs, on veterinary public health, food de2 fense, and agricultural security issues. 

3 ‘‘(2) Providing guidance for the health and wel4 fare of the Department’s working animals, including 

5 those used to enhance transportation, border, and 

6 maritime security, and for other purposes. 

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

8 relating to food, animal, and agricultural incidents, 

9 and the impact of such incidents on animal and pub10 lic health. 

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

12 relating to overall domestic preparedness for and col13 lective response to agricultural terrorism. 

14 ‘‘(5) Serving as the principal point of contact in 

15 the Office of Health Affairs for all veterinary pre16 paredness and response research and development. 

17 ‘‘(6) Serving as the principal point of contact in 

18 the Office of Health Affairs for sharing homeland 

19 security veterinary medical information with Depart20 ment officials, including all components with veteri21 nary, food, or agricultural interests. 

22 ‘‘(7) Serving as the principal point of contact 

23 within the Department with respect to veterinary 

24 homeland security issues for the Department of Ag25 riculture, the Department of Defense, the DepartVerDate Nov 24 2008 03:41 Apr 22, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5105.IH H5105

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1 ment of Health and Human Services, and other 

2 Federal departments and agencies. 

3 ‘‘(8) Serving as the principal point of contact 

4 within the Department with respect to veterinary 

5 homeland security issues for State, local, and tribal 

6 governments, the veterinary community, and other 

7 entities within and outside the Department. 

8 ‘‘(9) Performing such other duties relating to 

9 such responsibilities as the Secretary may require. 

10 ‘‘(d) ADVANCE NOTICE OF REORGANIZATION RE11 QUIRED.—Not later than 180 days before carrying out 

12 any reorganization within the Department that would af13 fect any responsibility of the Chief Veterinary Officer, the 

14 Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional 

15 committees a report on the proposed reorganization.’’. 

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

17 in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by adding at the 

18 end of the items relating to title III the following new 

19 item: 

‘‘Sec. 317. Chief Veterinary Officer.’’. 

Æ 


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