BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) are calling for enhanced interagency coordination on the federal response to the avian flu outbreak. The senators in a letter urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to work with the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among other authorities, as it addresses avian flu cases and disseminates information to states and the public. 

“Previous outbreaks have benefited from a consortium strategy wherein the USDA brought together the brightest minds in epidemiology and animal health research to lessen the potential economic and societal cost of the spread. We ask that the USDA take a similar approach — including additional research on wild bird deterrents, vaccines, and advanced biosecurity practices — when combating the current outbreak,” the lawmakers wrote.

“A successful response to this outbreak demands a commitment to keeping farmers, ranchers, and veterinarians informed of the latest developments while efficiently coordinating mitigation efforts. This includes increasing genomic pathogen surveillance and rapid dissemination of genomic sequence data,” they continued. 

Grassley, Klobuchar and Cornyn are joined by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark.). Additional signatories include Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Fetterman (D-Penn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).

Read the full letter HERE. 

Background:

Grassley and Klobuchar, both Senate Agriculture Committee members, previously pushed for funding to address the 2022 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak. Following the first known case in Iowa, Grassley quickly spoke with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig to coordinate the state and federal response. 

When the avian flu struck Iowa in 2015, Grassley worked to secure assistance for impacted producers and pressed for a full Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on the issue.

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