Sponsor
Jon Husted
Senator · R-OH
Senator · R-OH
The bill aims to reduce animal‑disease risk and strengthen market confidence through a voluntary federal biosecurity certification backed by funding and stakeholder input, but it risks imposing new costs and market pressure on smaller producers and adds federal spending and potential implementation burdens.
Rural communities, pork producers, and related small businesses see stronger detection and response to foreign animal diseases through enhanced surveillance and traceability, lowering the risk of large outbreaks that would disrupt supply and prices.
Swine producers and farms can obtain a voluntary federal biosecurity certification that improves on‑farm disease prevention and boosts market confidence in U.S. pork products.
Producers, state governments, and industry stakeholders gain a funded federal program (authorized $4.5M/year FY2027–FY2031) that supports implementation, oversight, and sustained program activities.
Smaller producers and family farms may face market pressure to obtain certification and could be disadvantaged if they cannot afford certification costs or facility changes.
Producers could incur new administrative burdens from federal rulemaking (additional recordkeeping, testing, or compliance activities) that raise operating costs.
The one-year deadline to finalize the rule risks rushed implementation, limiting time for stakeholder input and thorough program design which could lead to practical problems or unintended consequences.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a voluntary USDA swine health certification program, advisory committee, and authorizes $4.5M/year for FY2027–FY2031 to support biosecurity, traceability, surveillance, and preparedness.
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 U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan to certify swine disease status and strengthen biosecurity, traceability, surveillance, and foreign animal disease preparedness for the U.S. swine industry. The Department of Agriculture must finalize an existing proposed rule, establish and maintain the certification program, and form a Federal advisory committee under the Federal Advisory Committee Act within one year of enactment. Authorizes $4.5 million per year for FY2027–FY2031 (funds remain available until expended) to carry out the program and committee activities.