BISHOP, FERGUSON, KILDEE, SMITH, WARNOCK, AND ERNST INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL BEAGLE BRIGADE ACT TO SAFEGUARD AMERICAN AGRICULTURE
March 9, 2023
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA-02), Drew Ferguson (R-GA-03), Dan Kildee (D-MI-08), and Adrian Smith (R-NE-03) along with U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced the Beagle Brigade Act in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. These bipartisan bills would provide permanent authorization for the National Detector Dog Training Center, located in Newnan, Georgia.
The center extensively trains detector dogs and their U.S. Customs and Border Protection handlers to sniff out prohibited agricultural items that could carry foreign plant or animal pests and diseases into our country.
"Permanently authorizing the National Detector Dog Training Center represents a much-needed commitment to safeguard America's agriculture industry, a trillion-dollar contributor to our country's economy. The Beagle Brigade and their human handlers are on the front line, protecting our nation from foreign pests and diseases which could otherwise run rampant, damaging our agricultural production and overall economy," said Rep. Bishop. "U.S. agriculture touches the lives of every American – from the food we eat to the fiber in our clothing. This bill will help America continue to provide the highest quality, safest, most abundant, and economical food and fiber in the world."
"Located in Georgia's 3rd Congressional District, the National Detector Dog Training Center does important work to properly train detector dogs to sniff out prohibited agricultural items in domestic and international trade," said Rep. Ferguson. "The Beagle Brigade Act will permanently authorize the training center to ensure America's food supply chain stays protected from potentially devastating foreign pests and disease. I thank my colleagues for their leadership and participation, and I look forward to our bill becoming law."
"I'm proud to partner with Republicans and Democrats to introduce the Beagle Brigade Act," said Rep. Kildee. "By improving the inspection of food imports, we can help protect Michigan crops and livestock from harmful diseases. Farmers work hard to feed our families every day and this bipartisan bill will help protect our local food supply from harm."
"The security of our food supply is a crucial component of homeland security. Ensuring our agriculture industry and food sources are free from invasive pests and disease protects Americans, safeguards the livelihoods of our producers, and allows us to maintain healthy trade relationships," said Rep. Smith. "This bill would support efforts to keep unauthorized, contaminated produce out of our supply chain to the benefit of American farmers, ranchers, and consumers. Thank you to Reps. Bishop, Ferguson and Kildee for partnering with me on this bipartisan legislation."
"Every day, USDA's National Detector Dog Training Center in Newnan, Georgia plays an essential role in keeping our food supply safe," said Sen. Rev. Warnock, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. "Last spring, I introduced this legislation with Senator Ernst after I visited these hardworking dogs and their trainers. I saw firsthand how they work tirelessly to protect our agriculture industry from potentially contaminated fruit, vegetables, and meat. As a dog-lover and proud member of the Senate Agriculture committee, I am glad to be a leader in the effort to permanently authorize the Center. I'm going to keep pushing to get this done."
"Iowa farmers know that viruses like avian influenza and African Swine Fever have the power to devastate our agriculture industry, so we must do everything in our power to keep these diseases out of our farms and fields," said Sen. Ernst, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. "The Beagle Brigade is a major tool we use to sniff out these harmful diseases before they even enter our country, and this bipartisan bill will help ensure they can continue doing this important work."
Providing permanent authorization for the United States Department of Agriculture's National Detector Dog Training Center ensures the United States has a crucial tool in its fight against foreign pests and diseases that have the potential to devastate all sectors of the agriculture economy. Over 50 prominent agricultural, veterinary, and trade organizations support the legislation.
The Center trains dogs—mostly beagles—and their handlers to detect fruits, vegetables, and meats in international passenger baggage, mailed packages, and vehicles entering the United States. Dogs are selected from animal shelters, rescue groups, and private owners, and those that do not complete training are offered for adoption.
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