Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1376
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-16T08:07:30Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act of 2025 aims to support poultry farmers by providing financial compensation when their operations are restricted due to government-designated disease control zones, helping to mitigate economic losses from halted bird production without destroying the animals.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- A "control area" is a zone declared by the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture) to manage animal disease outbreaks.
- "Poultry" includes domesticated birds bred mainly for eggs or meat, such as chickens, turkeys, and waterfowl (excluding doves and pigeons).
- Compensation Eligibility: Owners of poultry growing or laying facilities in a control area are eligible if they are prohibited from raising or producing birds during the control period.
- Compensation Calculation:
- Based on the average income from the facility's five most recent flocks, multiplied by the number of flocks prohibited due to the control area.
- Deducts any payments already received from states or other sources.
- Total compensation cannot exceed the net loss calculated this way.
- Payment Process:
- Paid within 60 days of the owner's request to the Secretary of Agriculture.
- The Secretary's decision on the amount is final and cannot be challenged in court or by other federal officials (except by the Secretary or their designee).
- Exceptions:
- Applies the same exclusions as existing rules for compensation on destroyed animals (e.g., for negligence or violations).
- No payment if the owner already received compensation for destroyed animals in the same control area and period.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 10407(d) of the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8306) by clarifying its heading to focus on "Compensation for Destroyed Animals."
- Introduces a new subsection (e) specifically for non-destructive restrictions in control areas, expanding beyond prior rules that mainly covered losses from euthanized (destroyed) animals to include income losses from operational shutdowns.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases administrative duties for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and APHIS in processing claims and disbursing funds, potentially straining budgets for animal disease response programs.
- On Citizens: Provides financial relief to poultry farmers facing temporary shutdowns, reducing economic hardship during disease outbreaks and encouraging compliance with control measures.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could indirectly support U.S. poultry exports by maintaining industry stability during health crises that might otherwise disrupt global trade.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Poultry Growers and Layers: Primary beneficiaries, as they receive direct compensation for lost production.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and APHIS: Responsible for declaring control areas, reviewing claims, and making payments.
- State Governments and Other Entities: May provide supplementary compensation, which offsets federal payments.
- Broader Agricultural Community: Could benefit the poultry supply chain, including processors and consumers, by stabilizing production.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Limits judicial review of compensation amounts to streamline processes and reduce litigation, potentially raising due process concerns under the Fifth Amendment (which requires fair government procedures), though it allows internal USDA review.
- Constitutional: No major challenges anticipated, as it aligns with Congress's authority to regulate agriculture and commerce; however, the finality of decisions could be tested if seen as overly restrictive.
- Political: Introduced by bipartisan House members from agricultural districts, signaling support for rural economies; referral to the House Agriculture Committee suggests focus on farm policy without broader controversy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (14)
Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4], Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19], Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4], Rep. Womack, Steve [R-AR-3], Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
- 2025-02-14: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-02-14: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-14: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-14 — PDF (5 pages)