7 U.S.C. § 9201 — Definitions

Page 2304 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 9201 Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1706(e), added subsec. (e). Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1706(f), added subsec. (f). CHAPTER 116—NATIONAL BIO AND AGRO- DEFENSE FACILITY Sec. 9201. Definitions. 9202. National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. 9203. Evaluation and research plan. 9204. Availability of data and congressional brief- ings. 9205. Budget and report. 9206. Effect on other authorities. § 9201. Definitions In this chapter: (1) Animal The term ‘‘animal’’ has the meaning given the term in section 8302 of this title. (2) Transboundary disease The term ‘‘transboundary disease’’ has the meaning given the term in section 8914(a) of this title. (3) Veterinary countermeasure The term ‘‘veterinary countermeasure’’ has the meaning given the term in section 8302 of this title. (Pub. L. 116–260, div. P, § 2, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2159.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SHORT TITLE Pub. L. 116–260, div. P, § 1, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2159, provided that: ‘‘This division [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘National Bio and Agro-Defense Fa- cility Act of 2020’.’’ § 9202. National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (a) In general The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility shall be a national security laboratory asset to provide integrated research, development, and test and evaluation infrastructure to improve preparedness and response capabilities to pre- vent, detect, respond to, or mitigate harm re- sulting from animal pests or diseases and zoonotic diseases for the purpose of defending the United States against bio- and agro-threats, whether naturally occurring or intentional. (b) Mission Pursuant to subsection (a), the mission of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility shall be to protect the food supply, agriculture, and pub- lic health of the United States, including by— (1) integrating agricultural, zoonotic dis- ease, and other research, as appropriate; (2) addressing threats from high-consequence zoonotic disease agents, emerging foreign ani- mal diseases, and animal transboundary dis- eases; (3) addressing biological threats; (4) ensuring that research conducted at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility ad- dresses gaps that fall between the ongoing ani- mal and zoonotic disease research efforts across the Federal Government and does not duplicate those ongoing efforts; (5) facilitating, integrating, and coordi- nating the development and implementation of the strategic plan for research under sec- tion 9203(a)(2) of this title, relating to protec- tion of the food supply, agriculture, and public health of the United States; (6) providing appropriate education and training to prepare for and respond to bio- and agro-defense threats; (7) sharing data and related information with appropriate Federal departments or agen- cies, as requested by the heads of those depart- ments or agencies, or as necessary, to support biological material threat assessments; and (8) sharing data and related information, and developing strategic partnerships, to enhance the carrying out of the duties of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility for the develop- ment of priority zoonotic animal disease diagnostics, vaccines, drugs, and other coun- termeasures. (Pub. L. 116–260, div. P, § 3, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2159.) § 9203. Evaluation and research plan (a) In general Not less frequently than biennially, the Sec- retary of Agriculture, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the heads of other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, shall— (1) evaluate the work of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility; (2) develop, biennially update, and publish a strategic plan for research at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility based on priority risk and threat assessments, including strate- gies to— (A) develop veterinary countermeasures for emerging foreign animal diseases and animal transboundary diseases; (B) provide advanced testing, diagnostic, and evaluation capabilities for threat detec- tion, vulnerability assessments of animal and zoonotic diseases, and veterinary coun- termeasures for animal and zoonotic dis- eases; (C) assist, as appropriate, with the devel- opment, and address vulnerability assess- ments, of the agriculture and food sectors; (D) address gaps in the ongoing animal and zoonotic disease research efforts across the Federal Government, ensuring not to dupli- cate those ongoing efforts; and (E) be used for such other purposes as the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the heads of other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, determines to be appropriate; and (3) submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, the Committee on Homeland Security and Govern- mental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representa- tives, and the Committee on Homeland Secu- rity of the House of Representatives, the stra- tegic plan for research described in paragraph (2).