Ernst, Warnock Bill to Sniff Out Foreign Animal Disease is One Step Closer to Becoming Law

WASHINGTON – The Senate passed bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) to support the Beagle Brigade, a specialized group of canine units stationed at airports and ports of entry to prevent the spread of devastating foreign animal diseases.

The Beagle Brigade Act provides backing for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Detector Dog Training Center, which trains beagles and other skilled dogs to inspect luggage, vehicles, cargo, and packages entering the country. These four-legged detectives play a vital role in identifying prohibited agricultural items that could introduce harmful pests, invasive plants, or dangerous viruses into the United States.

“We need all hands – and paws – on deck to keep our agriculture community safe from foreign animal diseases like avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease, and African swine fever,” said Senator Ernst. “The Beagle Brigade is essential to sniffing out items that may harbor these threats, stopping them in their tracks before they can endanger our farms and food supply. As this bipartisan legislation moves forward, we can better support another critical line of defense against harmful diseases, pests, and plants, offering our farmers peace of mind as they work to protect their livestock and crops.”

“Every day, USDA’s National Detector Dog Training Center in Newnan plays an essential role in keeping our food supply safe from contamination. This legislation permanently authorizes their work and will continue to strengthen our nation’s agriculture industry and the well-being of our communities,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “As a member of the Senate Agriculture committee and champion for Georgia’s farmers, I am proud to have worked with Senator Ernst to get this bipartisan legislation passed through the Senate and one step closer to becoming law.”

“American agriculture relies on the National Detector Dog Training Center to prevent the introduction of foreign animal and plant diseases that would cripple our food supply. For the pork industry, the ‘Beagle Brigade’ is the first line of defense for keeping threats from foreign animal diseases, like African Swine Fever, out of the United States. America’s pork producers greatly appreciate Sen. Ernst and our champions in the Senate and urge the House to take this up before the end of the year,” said Lori Stevermer, National Pork Producers Council president and pork producer from Easton, Minnesota.

Background:

Ernst has long been a champion of foreign animal disease prevention and preparedness efforts including the bipartisan Animal Disease and Disaster Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act.

Following the most recent Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in both Iowa poultry flocks and dairy herds, she is also working to hold federal agencies accountable to providing public and state agencies with coordinated, up-to-date, and accurate information on the spread of HPAI.

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