Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3915
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2025-06-24T08:05:32Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill, titled the Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act of 2025, aims to reauthorize and expand funding for programs under the Animal Health Protection Act that focus on preventing, detecting, and responding to foreign animal diseases. These diseases are illnesses that affect livestock and poultry but are not native to the U.S., such as foot-and-mouth disease, and can threaten food security and the economy.
Key Provisions
- Mandatory Funding from Commodity Credit Corporation: Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to allocate funds from this federal lending program (which supports farmers) for animal disease programs:
- For fiscal years (FY) 2023–2025: $30 million annually, with at least $18 million dedicated to surveillance and detection efforts (subsection (b)).
- For FY 2026–2029: $233 million annually, broken down as:
- At least $10 million for laboratory networks (subsection (a)).
- At least $70 million for surveillance and detection (subsection (b)).
- At least $153 million for rapid response and preparedness (subsection (c)).
- For FY 2031 and beyond: $75 million annually, with at least $45 million for surveillance and detection.
- Authorization of Appropriations (additional funding Congress can approve beyond mandatory amounts):
- National Animal Health Laboratory Network: $30 million per year for FY 2019–2025; increases to $45 million per year for FY 2026–2030.
- National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program, and National Animal Vaccine Bank: Extends authorization through FY 2030.
- Funds must be available until spent through FY 2030, ensuring long-term support for these initiatives.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Funding Increases and Extensions: Previously, funding authorizations under the Animal Health Protection Act were set to expire in 2023. This bill retroactively covers FY 2023–2025 at lower levels, then significantly boosts mandatory funding starting in FY 2026 (from prior levels of around $100–150 million annually to up to $233 million). It also extends all authorizations to 2030 or later, providing multi-year stability.
- Specific Allocations: Introduces detailed breakdowns for how funds are used (e.g., minimum amounts for labs, surveillance, and response), which were less prescriptive before.
- Retroactive Application: Applies funding to years already passed (e.g., 2023–2025), allowing catch-up support.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will receive sustained and increased resources to enhance its animal health infrastructure, potentially improving coordination with state labs and reducing response times to outbreaks. This could strain administrative efforts if funding demands exceed appropriations.
- Citizens: Farmers, ranchers, and rural communities reliant on livestock will benefit from better disease prevention, protecting jobs and reducing economic losses from outbreaks (e.g., trade bans or culls). Consumers may see more stable food prices due to safeguarded animal agriculture.
- International Relations: Stronger U.S. programs could bolster global trade confidence in American meat and dairy exports, as foreign diseases often trigger international restrictions. It may also support U.S. leadership in international animal health standards, but no direct foreign aid or diplomacy changes are included.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Livestock and Poultry Producers: Primary beneficiaries, as enhanced programs protect their herds and reduce financial risks from diseases.
- USDA and Federal Agencies: Responsible for implementing and overseeing the funded programs, including the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
- State and Veterinary Laboratories: Gain from expanded National Animal Health Laboratory Network funding for testing and research.
- Veterinarians and Animal Health Experts: Involved in surveillance, response, and vaccine development.
- Commodity Credit Corporation: Its funds are redirected, potentially affecting other agricultural support programs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens existing statutory frameworks without creating new regulatory burdens; ensures compliance with federal spending rules by tying funds to specific, measurable program goals. No challenges to property rights or due process are evident.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause to regulate interstate agriculture and spending power for public welfare. Mandatory funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation is a standard practice but could face scrutiny if seen as overcommitting future budgets.
- Political: Bipartisan support (introduced by Republicans with agriculture committee ties) reflects priorities in farm states. It promotes long-term biosecurity amid rising global disease risks (e.g., from trade or climate), but debates may arise over funding levels versus other priorities like crop support. No controversial provisions, such as mandates on private landowners, are included.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (8)
Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Gray, Adam [D-CA-13], Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7], Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1], Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-06-11: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-11 — PDF (4 pages)