Homeland Security

The food and agriculture industry in the United States is not only key to the public health and welfare of this nation but is an important force in the economic, social and political fabric, as well. This vast industry is essential to the economic health of virtually every community. Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, we are more keenly aware of the need to protect the integrity and safety of our agriculture and food infrastructure. Historically, our food safety, plant protection and animal health regulatory systems have assumed the accidental contamination of food or inadvertent introduction of animal disease or plant pest. The prospect of an intentional, or terrorist, attack on our food and agriculture industry raises grave concerns that present challenges for producers and policy makers alike.

The President’s National Homeland Security Strategy recognizes the importance of securing the nation’s food supply and designated agriculture as a “critical infrastructure. The threat of a terrorist attack on the food and agriculture industries is likely to involve the contamination of resources rather than the destruction of infrastructure. Local, state and federal partners as well as the industry itself have already taken important steps to help protect the food and agriculture industry from terrorist attack. Greater linkage at all levels of government and the private sector of resources, expertise, and initiatives is needed to achieve shared security and emergency preparedness objectives

Staff Contact: 202-296-9680

Testimony

2002-06-26 Testimony by Commissioner Roger Johnson, North Dakota Department of Agriculture, before the House Agriculture Committee concerning the transfer of APHIS to the proposed Department of Homeland Security June 26, 2002
Testimony before the House Agriculture Committee concerning the transfer of APHIS to the proposed Department of Homeland Security - June 26, 2002 - Commissioner Roger Johnson, North Dakota Department of Agriculture
2002-06-26 Testimony by Commissioner Bob Odom, Lousiana Department of Agriculture, before the House Agriculture Committee concerning the transfer of APHIS to the proposed Department of Homeland June 26, 2002
Testimony before the House Agriculture Committee concerning the transfer of APHIS to the proposed Department of Homeland Security - June 26, 2002 - Louisiana Department of Agriculture Bob Odom
2002-06-26 Testimony by Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps before the House Agriculture Committee concerning the transfer of APHIS to the proposed Department of Homeland Security June 26, 2002
Testimony before the House Agriculture Committee concerning the transfer of APHIS to the proposed Department of Homeland Security - June 26, 2002 Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps

Documents and Links

View All +

Pre-Harvest Security Guidelines and Checklist 2006 Adobe Acrobat, 371KB
PDF
Chart: Homeland Security Presidential Directives & Activities Adobe Acrobat, 86KB
PDF
National Incident Management System website - FEMA http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/index.shtm
National Response Plan http://www.dhs.gov/xprepresp/committees/editorial_0566.shtm
Homeland Security
Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-9, January 30, 2004 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/02/20040203-2.html
CBP Briefing to the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture by Jayson Ahem, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations, September 21, 2003 Adobe Acrobat, 348KB
PDF
Homeland Security Issue Paper Adobe Acrobat, 44KB
PDF
H.R. 3448. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:h.r.03448:
Major Provisions of the Public Health Security & Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act (H.R. 3448). Text and Status of H.R. 3448. http://www.nasda.org/joint/06-06-2002HR3448.htm
The Admin Report on the Physical Protection of Critical Infrastructures and Key Assets Adobe Acrobat, 2MB
PDF

View All +