Washington, D.C. -- The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs today favorably reported the Homeland Security Food and Agriculture Act, S. 572, a bill introduced by U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI).

"I am pleased that the Committee has passed legislation holding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accountable for agroterrorism," said Akaka. "I have been working for years to focus the attention of the Congress and the Administration on the pressing need for agriculture security. We have taken a big step forward today."

The Homeland Security Food and Agriculture Act will help ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to agriculture security at the federal, state, and local level. Senator Akaka's bill directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to undertake a food and agriculture security program that includes increased communication and coordination with other relevant agencies. The bill also creates a grant program to facilitate the participation of agriculture experts in state and local community emergency planning efforts.

"As with Hurricane Katrina, we can no longer accept communication and coordination gaps," noted Akaka. "Whether it's agroterrorism or a natural disaster, the lives of Americans depend on a coordinated response.

"Last month I attended an agroterrorism exercise in Hawaii where the introduction of the avian flu virus via a ship from Asia was simulated. I was extremely impressed with the level of preparedness and the eagerness with which state officials learned from and cooperated with each other. My bill will create a grant program to fund similar exercises across the country."

Specifically the bill will require DHS to:

• Organize the communication among federal, state and local emergency response providers for an agricultural emergency;
• Ensure that the emergency response providers execute their role in the event of an agroattack;
• Ensure that emergency response providers have the necessary information and resources regarding an agroattack;
• Develop information sharing procedures among the emergency response providers;
• Coordinate with other federal agencies that have a role in agriculture security;
• Ensure state, local, and regional response plans include an agriculture security component; and
• Establish a taskforce of state and local homeland security officials to identify best agriculture security practices and disseminate the best practices to all states.

Senator Akaka is the chief sponsor of another agriculture security bill, S. 573, the Agriculture Security Assistance Act, which has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and was included in S. 975, the Project Bioshield Act of 2005, which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Akaka is the Ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management.