Sponsor
Jon Husted
Senator · R-OH
Senator · R-OH
The bill aims to reduce the risk and economic damage of foreign animal disease and bolster market confidence with a voluntary, federally supported swine biosecurity certification, but it may impose costs and competitive pressure on smaller producers, add administrative burdens, and requires taxpayer funding and a rapid rulemaking timeline.
Rural communities, pork consumers, and farmers face a lower risk of large foreign animal disease outbreaks because the bill strengthens surveillance and traceability, helping stabilize pork supply and prices.
Swine producers and farmers can obtain a voluntary federal certification that strengthens on‑farm biosecurity, improving disease prevention and market confidence (which can help market access and consumer trust).
State governments, industry, and producers gain a formal advisory committee plus dedicated funding ($4.5M/year, FY2027–FY2031) to guide and implement the program, providing sustained federal oversight and a forum for stakeholder input.
Small producers and smaller farms may be pressured by markets to obtain certification, disadvantaging those who cannot afford or meet certification costs.
Farmers may incur new federal recordkeeping, testing, or administrative costs from the program’s rulemaking and implementation requirements.
A one-year deadline to finalize the rule could rush implementation and limit time for thorough stakeholder input or robust program design.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a voluntary USDA swine certification program to improve biosecurity, traceability, surveillance, and foreign-animal-disease preparedness and funds it $4.5M/year for FY2027–FY2031.
Official title: Amend the Animal Health Protection Act to establish a U.S. Swine health improvement plan.
Introduced June 24, 2026 by Jon Husted · Last progress June 24, 2026
Creates a voluntary national swine certification program to improve disease surveillance, biosecurity, traceability, and preparedness for foreign animal diseases in the U.S. hog industry. The Department of Agriculture must finalize an existing proposed rule, set up the certification program and a federal advisory committee, and implement the program within one year of enactment. Authorizes $4.5 million per year for fiscal years 2027–2031 (available until expended) to support the program and related activities. The program is voluntary and includes a Federal Advisory Committee established under the Federal Advisory Committee Act.