Braun supports efforts to safeguard American food exports

WASHINGTON — Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Braun was one of four bipartisan senators who introduced the Safe American Food Exports Act.

Ultimately, the goal is to protect unsafe agriculture exports from getting shipped around the globe.

“Indiana is a top-ranked poultry-producing state, being first in the country for ducks, second for layer chickens and table eggs and third for turkeys,” Braun said.

“During the highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak last year, our Hoosier poultry producers relied on trade regionalization agreements to ensure that their safe food products made it to market.

“Spending most of my life around the farm, I know just how devastating animal disease outbreaks can be. The SAFE Act will help farmers focus on animal health, rather than finding a market for their safe food products, by giving USDA the authority to negotiate proactive trade agreements.”

Here are a few takeaways from stakeholders:

“More collaboration and communication among federal partners enables state agriculture departments and U.S. farmers to better prepare and respond in the case of an outbreak and ultimately leads to stronger animal health and welfare across the U.S.”

Ted McKinney, CEO

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture

“Indiana Farm Bureau supports the Safe American Food Exports Act introduced by Senator Braun to address known animal diseases. With Indiana being one of the top poultry-producing states in the country, our poultry industry was hit hard by last year’s outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Federal red tape prevented our producers from exporting safe food to their longstanding customers abroad. This legislation will encourage proactive regionalization negotiations at USDA and prevent producers from having the rug pulled out from underneath them in the future.”

Randy Kron, president

Indiana Farm Bureau

“We thank Sens. Mike Braun, R-Ind., and Tina Smith, D-Minn., for spearheading a bill that will ensure our export markets for animal-based feed and pet food products remain open in the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak on U.S. soil. Animal-based feed and pet food are an integral and often overlooked step in the food supply chain, so it is critical that the U.S. government preemptively take steps now to prevent this situation and protect our economy.”

Constance Cullman, president and CEO

American Feed Industry Association