Kelly Urges USDA to Expand Outreach to State/Local Agencies on Bird Flu Preparedness

Kelly Urges USDA to Expand Outreach to State/Local Agencies on Bird Flu Preparedness

U.S. Congresswoman Sue Kelly today wrote to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and urged the USDA to expand its efforts to prepare for any potential avian flu outbreak by providing clearer directions from the national level to state and local governments.

Local Farm Service Agencies in the Hudson Valley have expressed to Kelly that they are concerned they don't have enough specific guidance from USDA on how to utilize their existing resources to properly respond to a bird flu emergency. Kelly wrote to Johanns in an effort to point out this gap and urge the USDA to improve its coordination with local Farm Service Agencies in New York.

"While the USDA may have the resources to take an active role in any food security crisis, I am concerned that this is not true at the state and local level," Kelly wrote in her letter to Johanns. "Any coordination between USDA, HHS and DHS must not only include action at the local and state level, but also ensure that the appropriate agencies are adequately informed and prepared."

Kelly added, "As the first responders to an outbreak of avian flu, we must make sure that state and local agencies are adequately prepared to handle this responsibility."

Avian flu is a highly contagious virus that mainly affects poultry. Therefore, the USDA would play a critical role in food security and emergency food distribution in a national emergency, as its Farm Service Agencies and the Commodity Credit Corporation would be among the first responders to any avian flu report or incident.

Kelly also urged the USDA to take steps to enhance the collection of data on all known poultry operation and the mapping of this information, as well as to send poultry producers the information they need in regard to the federal response to an outbreak. In addition, Kelly urged the USDA to work more closely with the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Health and Human Services (HHS) to coordinate a plan that can be better shared with food-related agencies at the state and local levels.

"If such an outbreak were to occur, state and local agencies would be the first responders to the crisis," Kelly wrote to Johanns. "It is the responsibility of the federal government to guarantee that they are well-prepared for this task."

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