HR-4155-119
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Sponsored by Don Bacon (R-NE)
What it does
The American Agricultural Security Research Act of 2025 would establish or expand federal research programs focused on protecting the U.S. agricultural system and food supply from biological threats, including plant and animal diseases, pests, and potential agroterrorism. The bill's full text was not provided beyond its title and referral, so specific funding levels, agency assignments, and program structures are not available for review.
Who benefits
U.S. farmers and ranchers who would gain from improved early detection and response to crop and livestock threats. Rural agricultural communities whose economies depend on stable farm output. Food processors and distributors who rely on a secure domestic supply chain. Consumers broadly, who benefit from a stable and safe food supply. Federal research institutions and universities that may receive grants or contracts. Agribusiness companies developing biosecurity technologies.
Who is hurt
Taxpayers who would bear the cost of any new federal spending. Foreign agricultural exporters who compete with U.S. producers and may face stricter import biosecurity standards. Researchers or institutions not selected for funding who compete for limited grant dollars. Potentially, small or independent farms that may face new compliance requirements if the bill includes regulatory components.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that the U.S. food supply is a critical national security asset and that gaps in agricultural biosecurity research leave the country vulnerable to both natural outbreaks and deliberate attacks. They contend that diseases like foot-and-mouth disease or highly pathogenic avian influenza — which has already cost the U.S. poultry industry billions of dollars in recent years — demonstrate the urgent need for dedicated federal research capacity to detect, contain, and respond to agricultural threats before they reach crisis scale.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that existing federal agencies — including USDA's Agricultural Research Service and the Department of Homeland Security's National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility — already conduct agricultural security research, and that a new program may duplicate existing efforts without meaningfully improving outcomes. They contend that without a detailed funding mechanism or clear performance metrics, the bill risks creating bureaucratic overhead that diverts resources from proven programs while providing little accountability for results.