Lawmakers Propose Bill to Shield U.S. Pork Producers From Animal Disease
A bipartisan bill in Congress would create a voluntary federal program to certify swine herd health and help stop outbreaks like African swine fever.
Key points
- The bill, H.R. 10911, known as the US Swine Health Improvement Plan Act, was introduced by Reps. Don Davis, Brad Finstad and Marcy Kaptur.
- It would formally establish the voluntary US SHIP program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to certify pig farms and breeding facilities.
- The goal is to prevent, detect and respond to diseases such as African swine fever and classical swine fever.
- The lawmakers cite recent outbreaks in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Representatives Don Davis (North Carolina), Brad Finstad (Minnesota) and Marcy Kaptur (Ohio) introduced H.R. 10911, the US Swine Health Improvement Plan Act. The bipartisan proposal would formally establish a voluntary regulatory program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), called the US Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP).
The program would certify that herds on pig farms and breeding facilities across the country meet strict health standards. According to the bill's text, the initiative aims to prevent, detect and respond to animal diseases such as African swine fever and classical swine fever. The lawmakers note that these diseases have appeared in recent years in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Rep. Davis said North Carolina is the third-largest hog-producing state in the country and that the industry is a major part of its agricultural economy and food supply. Rep. Kaptur said the law would protect animal and public health and help U.S. Pork producers reach international markets. Rep. Finstad, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, said the measure will give producers in Minnesota and across the country the resources they need to respond to disease outbreaks.
The full text of the bill is available on the lawmakers' official website. The proposal must still be debated and passed by Congress before it can take effect.
Why it matters
For Dominicans in the U.S., the bill is aimed at protecting the country's food supply and agricultural economy, though the text does not mention the Dominican community. Its backers present it as a way to prevent outbreaks that could disrupt pork production and supply.