SC Nebraska News

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved the Beagle Brigade Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at safeguarding the nation's food supply chain. The legislation, known as S.759, passed with a vote of 381-20 and had previously received unanimous consent in the Senate in November 2024. It now awaits President Biden's signature to become law.

Introduced by Congressmen Adrian Smith (R-NE), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Drew Ferguson (R-GA), and Dan Kildee (D-MI), the bill will permanently authorize the National Detector Dog Training Center in Newnan, Georgia. This center trains detector dogs—primarily beagles—and their handlers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection to identify prohibited agricultural items that may carry foreign pests or diseases into the United States.

"Protecting American consumers and our agriculture industry from foreign threats to food safety before they enter our food supply is a critical task," said Rep. Smith, emphasizing the importance of this legislation for farmers and ranchers.

Rep. Bishop highlighted the economic impact of potential threats: "The U.S. agriculture sector is a $1 trillion industry constantly under threat... Some of these diseases could cost tens of billions of dollars to contain."

Rep. Ferguson noted that "the Beagle Brigade Act would permanently authorize the training center to ensure that America’s food supply stays protected."

Rep. Kildee expressed satisfaction with the bill's passage: "This legislation will help defend American agriculture from foreign diseases that could harm our livestock."

Senator Joni Ernst stressed prevention efforts against diseases like avian influenza: "The Beagle Brigade is our first line of defense against foreign animal diseases."

Senator Raphael Warnock praised USDA's National Detector Dog Training Center's role in maintaining food safety: "This legislation permanently authorizes their work and will continue to strengthen our nation’s agriculture industry."

The bill was supported by several cosponsors including Reps. Mike Flood (R-NE) and Lisa McClain (R-MI).