text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
  
      (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Agricultural 
  Bioterrorism Countermeasures Act of 2001''.
      (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
  follows:
  
  Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
  Sec. 2. Findings and purposes.
  Sec. 3. Biosecurity upgrades at Department of Agriculture and related 
                              facilities.
  Sec. 4. Intramural agricultural bioterrorism research and development.
  Sec. 5. Consortium for countermeasures against agricultural 
                              bioterrorism.
  Sec. 6. Agricultural bioterrorism competitive research grants.
  Sec. 7. Expansion of Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
                              activities.
  Sec. 8. Expansion of Food Safety Inspection Service activities.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
  
      (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
              (1) The events of September 11, 2001, have heightened 
          awareness of the threat of acts of bioterrorism, including 
          attacks directed at the domestic food supply and underlying 
          agriculture.
              (2) Evidence of access to and rudimentary experiments with 
          chemical and biological agents and the reported interest in the 
          operation of cropdusting aircraft point to possible terrorist 
          intent to use biological or chemical weapons.
              (3) An attack of agricultural bioterrorism would pose 
          serious challenges such as--
                      (A) hazards to human health;
                      (B) erosion of public confidence in the safety of 
                  the domestic food supply; and
                      (C) damage to the economy.
              (4) It is important to develop short- and long-term 
          strategies and supporting technology to more effectively and 
          efficiently protect the domestic food supply from acts of 
          bioterrorism.
              (5) A program of ongoing research and development is 
          required to reduce the vulnerability of plant and animal 
          agriculture and the food supply.
              (6) It is critical to bring Federal, academic, and private 
          sector capacities to bear on the threat of agricultural 
          bioterrorism.
      (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
              (1) to strengthen the research and development capacity of 
          the United States to respond to the threat of agricultural 
          bioterrorism;
              (2) to promote the collaboration between the Federal, 
          academic, and private sectors in addressing agricultural 
          bioterrorism; and
              (3) to strengthen the capacity of regulatory agencies to 
          prepare for, respond to, and mitigate the consequences of a 
          bioterrorist attack.
  
  SEC. 3. BIOSECURITY UPGRADES AT DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RELATED 
                FACILITIES.
  
      (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
  appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture $870,000,000 to enable the 
  Agricultural Research Service to comply with the requirements of the 
  Department of Agriculture's biosecurity responsibilities under 
  Presidential Directive 67 with respect to the conduct of activities to 
  secure existing facilities where potential animal and plant pathogens 
  are housed or researched and to improve food safety research 
  activities.
      (b) Distribution of Amounts.--The amounts appropriated pursuant to 
  the authorization of appropriations in subsection (a) shall be made 
  available as follows:
              (1) $220,000,000 shall be made available for renovation, 
          update, and expansion of the Biosafety Level 3 laboratory and 
          animal research facilities at the Plum Island Animal Disease 
          Center (Greenport, New York).
              (2) $385,000,000 shall be made available for the 
          Agricultural Research Service/Animal and Plant Health 
          Inspection Service facility in Ames, Iowa.
              (3) $106,000,000 shall be made available for the planning 
          and design of an Agricultural Research Service biocontainment 
          laboratory for poultry research in Athens, Georgia.
              (4) $9,000,000 shall be made available for the planning, 
          updating, and renovation of the Arthropod-Bome Animal Disease 
          Laboratory in Laramie, Wyoming.
              (5) $120,000,000 shall be made available for collaborative 
          research with the Oklahoma City National Memorial Institute for 
          the Prevention of Terrorism, the Department of Justice, and 
          other law enforcement and emergency preparedness organizations.
              (6) $10,000,000 shall be made available for the purchase of 
          rapid detection field test kits to be distributed by the 
          Secretary of Agriculture to State and local agencies engaged in 
          defending against agroterrorism and the training of appropriate 
          authorities.
              (7) $20,000,000 shall be made available for the updating, 
          expansion, and renovation of the Biosensor Technologies 
          Research Center at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, 
          Oklahoma.
  
  SEC. 4. INTRAMURAL AGRICULTURAL BIOTERRORISM RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
  
      (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall expand 
  Agricultural Research Service programs to protect the domestic food 
  supply by--
              (1) enhancing the capability to respond immediately to the 
          needs of regulatory agencies involved in protecting the food 
          supply;
              (2) cooperating with academic and private sector partners 
          to maximize the impact of research and development;
              (3) strengthening linkages with the intelligence community 
          to better identify research needs and evaluate acquired 
          materials;
              (4) expanding the involvement of the Agricultural Research 
          Service with international organizations dealing with plant and 
          animal disease control; and
              (5) taking other appropriate measures.
      (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
  appropriated to carry out this section $140,000,000 for each of fiscal 
  years 2003 through 2007.
  
  SEC. 5. CONSORTIUM FOR COUNTERMEASURES AGAINST AGRICULTURAL 
                BIOTERRORISM.
  
      (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a 
  Consortium for Countermeasures Against Agricultural Bioterrorism to 
  help form stable long-term programs of research, development, and 
  evaluation of options to enhance the biosecurity of United States 
  agriculture.
      (b) Membership.--
              (1) In general.--The Consortium shall be comprised of 
          institutions of higher education positioned to partner with 
          Federal agencies to address agricultural bioterrorism.
              (2) Designation.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
          designate for membership in the Consortium--
                      (A) 3 institutions of higher education that are 
                  national centers for countermeasures against 
                  agricultural bioterrorism; and
                      (B) not more than 7 additional institutions of 
                  higher education with existing programs relating to 
                  agricultural bioterrorism.
              (3) National centers.--The national centers shall be 
          selected using the following criteria:
                      (A) Co-location of Department of Agriculture 
                  laboratories or training centers with member 
                  institutions.
                      (B) Demonstrated expertise in the area of plant and 
                  animal diseases.
                      (C) Located at Land Grant Institutions that have a 
                  College of Veterinary Medicine, an on-site animal 
                  disease diagnostic laboratory, and the capability to 
                  conduct on-site training and training via distance 
                  education technology.
                      (D) Close coordination with State cooperative 
                  extension programs that work in cooperation with 
                  industry, farm and commodity organizations, and 
                  regulatory agencies.
      (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
  appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal 
  years 2003 through 2007.
  
  SEC. 6. AGRICULTURAL BIOTERRORISM COMPETITIVE RESEARCH GRANTS.
  
      (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall enhance the 
  National Research Initiative of the Competitive Grants Program of the 
  Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service by 
  awarding grants focused on the science and technology needed to protect 
  against and deal with acts of bioterrorism directed at the domestic 
  food supply and agriculture.
      (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
  appropriated to carry out this section $30,000,000 for each of fiscal 
  years 2003 through 2007.
  
  SEC. 7. EXPANSION OF ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE 
                ACTIVITIES.
  
      (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall enhance and 
  expand the capacity of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
  by--
              (1) increasing inspection capacity at international points 
          of origin;
              (2) improving surveillance at ports of entry and customs;
              (3) enhancing methods of protecting against introduction of 
          plant and animal disease organisms by terrorists;
              (4) adopting new strategies and technology for dealing with 
          outbreaks of plant and animal disease arising from acts of 
          terrorism or from unintentional introduction, including 
          establishing cooperative agreements among entities described in 
          subsection (b) to enhance the preparedness and ability of 
          Veterinary Services of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
          Service and such entities to respond to outbreaks of such 
          animal diseases;
              (5) strengthening the planning and coordination with State 
          and local agencies, including the entities described in 
          subsection (b); and
              (6) taking other appropriate measures.
      (b) Cooperating Entities.--The entities referred to in paragraphs 
  (4) and (5) of subsection (a) are the following:
              (1) Veterinary Services of the Animal and Plant Health 
          Inspection Service.
              (2) State animal health commissions and regulatory agencies 
          for livestock and poultry health.
              (3) State agriculture departments.
              (4) Accredited colleges of veterinary medicine that are co-
          located with an accredited animal disease diagnostic laboratory 
          and connected via high speed internet to national animal 
          disease laboratories (to facilitate telemedicine sharing of 
          necropsy images and histopathology images), animal diagnostic 
          centers, State departments of public health, and the Center for 
          Disease Control and Prevention.
              (5) Private veterinary practitioners.
      (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
  appropriated to carry out this section $140,000,000 for each of fiscal 
  years 2003 through 2007.
  
  SEC. 8. EXPANSION OF FOOD SAFETY INSPECTION SERVICE ACTIVITIES.
  
      (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall enhance and 
  expand the capacity of the Food Safety Inspection Service by--
              (1) enhancing the ability to inspect and ensure the safety 
          and wholesomeness of meat and poultry products;
              (2) developing new methods for rapid detection and 
          identification of diseases and other hazardous agents;
              (3) applying new technologies to improve ante mortem and 
          post mortem inspection procedures;
              (4) improving the capacity to inspect international meat 
          and poultry products at points of origin and at ports of entry; 
          and
              (5) strengthening collaboration among agencies within the 
          Department of Agriculture and in other parts of Federal and 
          State government through the sharing of information and 
          technology.
      (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
  appropriated to carry out this section $140,000,000 for each of fiscal 
  years 2003 through 2007.
target: Agricultural Bioterrorism Countermeasures Act of 2001 - Authorizes appropriations for biosecurity upgrades at specified Department of Agriculture and related facilities.Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to bioterrorism countermeasures, to: (1) expand Agricultural Research Service programs to protect the domestic food supply; (2) establish a Consortium for Countermeasures Against Agricultural Bioterrorism comprised of institutions of higher education in partnership with Federal agencies to develop long-term biosecurity programs; (3) enhance the National Research Initiative of the Competitive Grants Program of the Award Grants Program of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service by awarding grants for bioterrorism protective measures; and (4) expand the capacities of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Food Safety Inspection Service. Authorizes appropriations.
feat_title: To establish a coordinated program of science-based countermeasures to address the threats of agricultural bioterrorism.