7 U.S.C. § 8912

Current through P.L. 118-106 (published on www.congress.gov on 10/04/2024)

Section 8912 - Agricultural biosecurity communication center

(a) Establishment

The Secretary shall establish a communication center within the Department to-

(1) collect and disseminate information and prepare for an agricultural disease emergency, agroterrorist act, or other threat to agricultural biosecurity; and

(2) coordinate activities described in paragraph (1) among agencies and offices within the Department.

(b) Relation to existing DHS communication systems

(1) Consistency and coordination

The communication center established under subsection (a) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, share and coordinate the dissemination of timely information with the Department of Homeland Security and other communication systems of appropriate Federal departments and agencies.

(2) Avoiding redundancies

Paragraph (1) shall not be construed to impede, conflict with, or duplicate the communications activities performed by the Secretary of Homeland Security under any provision of law.

(c) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section-

(1) such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2013; and

(2) $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023.

7 U.S.C. § 8912

Pub. L. 110-234, title XIV, §141124112,, 122 Stat. 1455; Pub. L. 110-246, §4(a), title XIV, §14112, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2217; Pub. L. 113-79, title VII, §75017501,, 128 Stat. 900; Pub. L. 115-334, title VII, §74017401,, 132 Stat. 4817.

EDITORIAL NOTES

CODIFICATION Pub. L. 110-234 and Pub. L. 110-246 enacted identical sections. Pub. L. 110-234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110-246.

AMENDMENTS2018-Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 115-334 substituted "2023" for "2018". 2014-Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 113-79 amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012."

STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES

EFFECTIVE DATEEnactment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110-234 by Pub. L. 110-246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110-234 see section 4 of Pub. L. 110-246 set out as a note under section 8701 of this title.

DEFINITION OF "SECRETARY""Secretary" as meaning the Secretary of Agriculture, see section 8701 of this title.

Department: The term "Department" means the Department of Agriculture.
agricultural biosecurity: The term "agricultural biosecurity" means protection from an agent that poses a threat to-(A) plant or animal health;(B) public health as it relates to the adulteration of products regulated by the Secretary of Agriculture under any provision of law that is caused by exposure to an agent; or(C) the environment as it relates to agriculture facilities, farmland, and air and water within the immediate vicinity of an area associated with an agricultural disease or outbreak.
agricultural disease emergency: The term "agricultural disease emergency" means an incident of agricultural disease that requires prompt action to prevent significant damage to people, plants, or animals.
agroterrorist act: The term "agroterrorist act" means an act that-(A) causes or attempts to cause-(i) damage to agriculture; or(ii) injury to a person associated with agriculture; and(B) is committed or appears to be committed with the intent to-(i) intimidate or coerce a civilian population; or(ii) disrupt the agricultural industry in order to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion.