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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
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February
2004
Volume 6
- Number 1 |
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Related Sites:
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US Agriculture Department
(USDA)
Homeland Security Programs By Lorenda Ward The US
Agriculture Department (USDA) was founded in 1862 by President Lincoln
to help
American farmers. Today the USDA is
responsible for:
Two of the USDA programs went into the newly created Department of Homeland Securities (DHS). DHS was split into four directorates: Border and Transportation Security, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Science and Technology and Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection. The USDA programs that became a part of DHS were part of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) now under the Border and Transportation directorate and the Plum Island Animal Disease Center now under the Science and Technology directorate. The USDA also formed a Homeland Security council to coordinate efforts among all the USDA agencies. APHIS is responsible for protecting and promoting US agriculture health, administering the Animal Welfare Act, and carrying out wildlife damage management activities. APHIS is part of the USDA efforts to provide the Nation with safe and affordable food. On November 21, 2002 President Bush signed legislation creating DHS. At that time portions of APHIS went under DHS. On March 1, 2003, about 2,600 employees from APHIS’ Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection (AQI) force become part of DHS’ Border and Transportation Security’s Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP). Their role is to protect our borders and ports of entry from invasive pests and diseases. AQI’s Beagle Brigade was also moved under DHS. DHS and APHIS work together to safeguard our food and agricultural resources. DHS is responsible for the first responders that contain and manage an agri-terror threat while APHIS provides the scientific and diagnostic expertise. On June 1, 2003, the lands, buildings and other facilities of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center were transferred to DHS. The Plum Island Animal Disease Center works to protect farm animals, farmers and ranchers, the Nation’s farm economy and our export markets. They are responsible for protecting our food supply system. The Plum Island Animal Disease Center is also responsible for the research and diagnosis that protects the nation’s animal industries and exports from catastrophic economic losses caused by foreign animal disease agents accidentally or deliberately introduced into the US. Plum Island is the only location that certain infectious foreign animal diseases can be studied, i.e. foot-and-mouth disease and mad cow disease. APHIS is currently investigating the mad cow disease associated with the Canadian cows shipped to the US. Twenty-seven of the 81 cows have been located. The investigation is on going, but from the Canadian facility only the index cow has tested positive for mad cow disease. The results from the twenty-seven cows located in the US were not posted as of January 26, 2004. Resources: http://www.aphis.usda.gov |