News Release - Etheridge Amendment on Agro-security Included in Homeland Security Legislation

News Release
Congressman Bob Etheridge
North Carolina

May 19, 2005

Contact: Sara Lang
Phone: (202) 225-4531

Etheridge Amendment on Agro-security Included in Homeland Security Legislation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington), the only North Carolina member of the Homeland Security Committee, spoke on the floor of the U.S. House yesterday in support of legislation to set the course for the Department of Homeland Security. Etheridge's amendment on agro-security, which urges DHS to implement reforms to protect agriculture from terrorist attack, was included in the legislation.

"Too often, folks take the safety of our food for granted, so it is critical that the Department of Homeland Security work in close cooperation with other agencies in the federal government, especially the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to ensure the safety of our food," Etheridge said. "I hope this amendment will jumpstart DHS' efforts on agro-security."

Etheridge's amendment requires DHS to submit a report within 120 days after the enactment of the legislation regarding how the Department will implement recommendations from the Government Accountability Office's report, "Homeland Security: Much is Being Done to Protect Agriculture from a Terrorist Attack, but Important Challenges Remain." In the report, GAO recommends that:

the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Agriculture work together to identify the reasons for declining agricultural inspections and to identify potential areas for improvement;
the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Agriculture streamline the flow of information between USDA and DHS agricultural inspectors, and expedite the integration of the two agencies' databases and information technology systems at the port level;
the Secretary of Homeland Security develop a mechanism to promptly and effectively seek input from key stakeholders on national guidance that affects their roles in protecting agriculture and responding to an emergency;
the Secretaries of Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services, and the Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency compile relevant after-action reports from test exercises and real-life emergencies and disseminate the reports through the Homeland Security Information Network that DHS is developing;
the Secretary of Homeland Security work to ensure that task lists for the various agencies and working groups engaged in securing agriculture are consistent with national plans and guidelines; and
the Secretary of Homeland Security develop controls to better coordinate and track federally funded research efforts with other agencies to protect against agroterrorism.

The full report is available on Etheridge's website at www.house.gov/etheridge.

The Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act for FY 2006, H.R. 1817, passed yesterday by a vote of424 to 4. The legislation is the first in what could become an annual review of the Department of Homeland Security's programs and policies. It authorizes the hiring of 2,000 new border agents, refines the color-coded threat alert system and takes steps to strengthen the DHS' intelligence capabilities.