Jim Hagedorn: “I think a task force would be great, in order to make sure that these Departments are coordinating and working together.…”

“I think a task force would be great, in order to make sure that these Departments are coordinating and working together. Then we in the Congress can interact with them in a better fashion. We have to do every last thing we can to protect our food production and our American agricultural producers from this and other infectious diseases. I encourage everyone to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Protecting America's Food and Agriculture Act. Agriculture is key to southern Minnesota's economy, but a shortage of Agricultural inspectors at America's ports of entries puts our production at risk from infectious diseases. African Swine Fever has torn through China's hog population and is currently spreading throughout Europe and Asia--with recent outbreaks reported in the Philippines and Greece. Foreign Ag Diseases like the High Path Avian Influenza outbreak in 2014 cost the poultry industry $1.6 billion. Foreign Ag Diseases affect the whole food supply chain, reducing demand and prices for crops like corn and soybeans, and increasing the price of food at the supermarket. With the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus, it is critical that we protect our American food and agriculture from pests and foreign-born diseases, so that we can continue to supply high quality products around the world. Our farmers are ready to meet this challenge. Minnesota's agriculture exports skyrocketed by 263 percent in the past ten years.…”