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
PL 115-43 (H.R.1238), enacted 06/30/2017

131 STAT. 884 
PUBLIC LAW 115–43—JUNE 30, 2017 
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 veteri-
nary defense against terrorism, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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. COORDINATION OF DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 
EFFORTS RELATED TO FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND VETERI-
NARY 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 Depart-
ment’s responsibilities pursuant to Homeland Security Presi-
dential Directive 9–Defense of United States Agriculture and 
Food. 
‘‘(2) Providing oversight and integration of the Depart-
ment’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, 
6 USC 321q. 
Securing our 
Agriculture and 
Food Act. 
6 USC 101 note. 
June 30, 2017 
[H.R. 1238] 
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131 STAT. 885 
PUBLIC LAW 115–43—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. 
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 Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(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 pro-
gram. 
‘‘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. 
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