Protecting America’s Herds Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9377
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-18: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-03T08:06:31Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 9377: Protecting America's Herds Act
Purpose
This legislation establishes a federal grant program administered by the Secretary of Agriculture to help cooperative extension services prepare for and respond to outbreaks of New World screwworm, a livestock pest.
Key Provisions
- Grant Program Establishment: The Secretary of Agriculture must create a competitive grant program for cooperative extension services focused on New World screwworm preparedness and response.
- Eligible Uses of Funds:
- Training cooperative extension service personnel on identification, treatment, management, prevention, and reporting of the pest.
- Supporting livestock inspections, including inspector training.
- Providing producer education through workshops, field demonstrations, outreach campaigns, and educational materials.
- Delivering direct technical assistance to livestock producers on prevention, monitoring, treatment, biosecurity, and reporting suspected cases.
- Priority Consideration: Grants prioritize cooperative extension services in States or Tribal communities at higher risk of pest introduction or spread.
- Coordination Requirements: The Secretary must work with cooperative extension services, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, State animal health officials, veterinarians, Tribal agricultural programs, and land-grant colleges and universities involved in veterinary or agricultural research.
- Definitions: The bill defines "cooperative extension service," "land-grant colleges and universities," and "State" by referencing existing law in 7 U.S.C. 3103, with "State" including the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.
- Funding: Authorizes such sums as may be necessary for the program, with no specific dollar amount set.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new grant program under the Department of Agriculture without amending prior statutes. It creates targeted federal support for pest response activities that were not previously authorized in this form.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Expands the role of the Department of Agriculture and its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in coordinating pest preparedness with extension services and state partners.
- Citizens: Provides resources to livestock producers for education and technical help, potentially reducing economic losses from outbreaks in affected areas.
- International Relations: No direct provisions address international aspects, though improved domestic preparedness could indirectly support trade and border security related to agricultural pests.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Cooperative extension services (primary grant recipients).
- Livestock producers and related agricultural operations.
- State and Tribal animal health officials and agricultural programs.
- Veterinarians and land-grant colleges and universities conducting relevant research.
- The Department of Agriculture and its affiliated agencies.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill raises no apparent constitutional concerns, as it falls within Congress's authority to fund agricultural programs. It operates through existing cooperative extension frameworks and includes no new regulatory mandates or penalties.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (15)
Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28], Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-18: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2026-06-18: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-18: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Protecting America’s Herds Act — issued 2026-06-18 — PDF (4 pages)