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S. 859 (113th): Animal and Public Health Protection Act

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The text of the bill below is as of May 6, 2013 (Introduced). The bill was not enacted into law.

II

113th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 859

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 6, 2013

introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

A BILL

To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to provide for the conducts of activities to detect, and respond in a timely manner to, threats to animal health.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Animal and Public Health Protection Act .

2.

National animal health laboratory network

Subtitle E of title X of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 10409 the following:

10409A.

National animal health laboratory network

(a)

Definition of eligible laboratory

In this section, the term eligible laboratory means a diagnostic laboratory that meets specific criteria developed by the Secretary, in consultation with State animal health officials, State veterinary diagnostic laboratories, and veterinary diagnostic laboratories at institutions of higher education.

(b)

Contracts

The Secretary shall offer to enter into contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other legal instruments with eligible laboratories—

(1)

to enhance the capability of the Secretary—

(A)

to detect, and respond in a timely manner to, emerging or existing threats to animal health; and

(B)

to support the protection of public health, the environment, and the agricultural economy of the United States;

(2)

to provide the capacity and capability for standardized—

(A)

test procedures, reference materials, and equipment;

(B)

laboratory biosafety and biosecurity levels;

(C)

quality management system requirements;

(D)

interconnected electronic reporting and transmission of data; and

(E)

evaluation for emergency preparedness; and

(3)

to coordinate the development, implementation, and enhancement of national veterinary diagnostic laboratory capabilities, with special emphasis on surveillance planning and vulnerability analysis, technology development and validation, training, and outreach.

(c)

Priority

To the extent practicable and to the extent capacity and specialized expertise may be necessary, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible laboratories at existing Federal facilities, State facilities, and facilities at institutions of higher education.

(d)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.

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