Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am proud to rise in support of the Beagle Brigade Act, which is a bipartisan, bicameral bill, the companion of which I led in this Chamber with my colleagues Representatives Drew Ferguson, Dan Kildee, and Adrian Smith. The Senate version, which we consider today, was offered and advanced through the Senate by Senator Warnock from Georgia and Senator Ernst from Iowa. The bill provides authorization for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Detector Dog Training Center, which is located in Newnan, Georgia, and is vital to the protection of American agriculture and helps keep foreign animal and plant pests as well as diseases out of our country. The U.S. agriculture sector is a $1 trillion industry constantly under the threat of foreign pests and diseases, such as African swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease, or citrus greening disease that can be introduced through our Nation's ports of entry, including airports, harbors, and mail and cargo facilities. Some of these diseases could cost the American economy tens of billions of dollars to contain and eradicate if they are found to be in the country. Agriculture detector dogs, known as the beagle brigade, are an important tool in preventing these threats and eradicating them in the event they overcome our safeguards.…”