U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4893
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-07T04:53:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation This bill aims to create a voluntary program to strengthen disease prevention and response in the U.S. swine industry by improving biosecurity, tracking animal movements, monitoring for illnesses, and preparing for outbreaks of foreign animal diseases.
Key Provisions Outlined
- The Secretary of Agriculture must establish and maintain a voluntary certification program called the U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan.
- A Federal advisory committee will be formed to offer recommendations on running the program.
- The Secretary must finalize a proposed rule from December 2024 within one year of the bill's enactment, after reviewing public comments.
- The program is added as a new section to the existing Animal Health Protection Act.
- Funding of $4.5 million per year is authorized for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced The bill inserts a new section (10409B) into the Animal Health Protection Act, creating a structured, ongoing certification and advisory framework that did not previously exist for swine health improvement.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies, primarily the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will handle program setup, rule finalization, and advisory committee operations.
- Swine producers and related businesses may voluntarily participate to gain certification benefits, potentially affecting industry practices and costs.
- Improved disease preparedness could support smoother international trade in pork products by demonstrating stronger biosecurity standards.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Swine producers and the broader pork industry.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- Members of the new Federal advisory committee.
- Animal health professionals and state agricultural agencies involved in disease surveillance.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill follows standard procedures for creating a Federal advisory committee under existing law (chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code) and requires public rulemaking, which includes considering stakeholder input. No major constitutional issues are raised in the text itself.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2026-06-24: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-24 — PDF (3 pages)