Yesterday, Congressmen Adrian Smith (R-NE), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Drew Ferguson (R-GA), and Dan Kildee (D-MI), led U.S. House approval of S.759, the Beagle Brigade Act by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 381-20. The bill passed the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent in November 2024. Having passed both chambers, the bill now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
In May 2023, Reps. Smith, Bishop, Ferguson, and Kildee introduced the House companion bill, H.R. 1480, which was approved by the U.S. House Agriculture Committee by a unanimous vote. S. 759 was introduced by Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA).
The bill will permanently authorize the National Detector Dog Training Center, located in Newnan, Georgia. The Center extensively trains detector dogs—mostly beagles—and their U.S. Customs and Border Protection handlers to sniff out prohibited agricultural items that could carry foreign plant or animal pests and diseases into our country. Dogs are selected from animal shelters, rescue groups, and private owners. Those that retire from the program or do not complete training are offered for adoption.
“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. “Our hardworking farmers and ranchers are tirelessly vigilant to safeguard their stock from contaminants, and the passage of this bill will augment Customs and Border Protection efforts to effectively identify and stop foreign pests and diseases before they can enter our food supply chain. I thank Reps. Bishop, Ferguson, and Kildee for their collaboration on this bipartisan bill, and I encourage President Biden to sign it into law.”
“The U.S. agriculture sector is a $1 trillion industry constantly under the threat of foreign pests and diseases… that could be introduced through our nation’s ports of entry, including airports, harbors, and mail and cargo facilities,” said Rep. Bishop during floor debate. “Some of these diseases could cost the American economy tens of billions of dollars to contain and eradicate, if they are found to be in the country. Agriculture detector dogs – known as the ‘Beagle Brigade’ – are an important tool in preventing these threats and eradicating them in the event they overcome our safeguards… An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The Brigade is well worth its value.”
“The Beagle Brigade Act would permanently authorize the training center to ensure that America’s food supply stays protected from potentially devastating foreign pests and diseases,” said Rep. Ferguson during floor debate. “The National Detector Dog Training Center in Georgia’s 3rd Congressional District does important work to properly train detector dogs to sniff out prohibited agricultural items in domestic and international trade.”
“I’m pleased to see the House pass our bill, the Beagle Brigade Act, to strengthen the inspection of food imports. Michigan’s farmers work hard to feed our families every day, and this bill will help to protect our local food supply,” said Rep. Kildee. “This legislation will help defend American agriculture from foreign diseases that could harm our livestock and increase food prices.”
“Iowans know firsthand how important prevention and preparedness efforts are in combatting diseases like avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease, and African swine fever. The Beagle Brigade is our first line of defense against foreign animal diseases that have the potential to devastate our farmers, producers, and food supply chain,” said Sen. Ernst. “The House and Senate have done our jobs to protect our agricultural community, and the president must sign this bipartisan legislation into law immediately.”
“Every day, USDA’s National Detector Dog Training Center in Newnan plays an essential role in keeping our food supply safe from contamination. This legislation permanently authorizes their work and will continue to strengthen our nation’s agriculture industry and the well-being of our communities,” said Sen. Warnock. “As a member of the Senate Agriculture committee and champion for Georgia’s farmers, I am proud to have worked with my Senate and House colleagues, including Congressman Bishop, to get this bipartisan legislation over the finish line, and I urge President Biden to swiftly sign it into law.”
Cosponsors of H.R. 1480 include: Reps. Mike Flood (R-NE), Lisa McClain (R-MI), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), Wiley Nickel (D-NC), Yadira Caraveo (D-CO), Abigail Spanberger, (D-VA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Mike Bost (R-IL), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Donald Davis (D-NC), Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Angie Craig (D-MN), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), James Baird (R-IN), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Jeff Jackson, (D-NC), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Shontel Brown (D-OH), David Rouzer (R-NC), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Bill Huizenga, Bill (R-MI)