Austin News

On May 6, 2024, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and 17 bipartisan Senate colleagues sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack urging for a coordinated response to the recent outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

In the letter, Senator Cornyn emphasized the importance of collaboration and heightened surveillance in addressing the outbreak. He stated, "The spread of the strain to livestock, including goats and cattle, and a farmworker in Texas, underscores the urgency required to confront this outbreak through a collaborative federal response, heightened surveillance, and additional resources to support vaccine research."

The Senators highlighted the need for timely information dissemination, with Senator Cornyn affirming, "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."

With the wild bird migration ongoing, the Senators expressed readiness to work with Secretary Vilsack and department staff to contain and minimize the impact of the outbreak on rural America, as mentioned by Senator Cornyn, "As the wild bird migration continues this spring, we stand ready to work with you and department staff to contain and stop this outbreak and minimize harm to rural America."

The letter, also signed by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and other colleagues, stressed the importance of a broad, coordinated approach involving various agencies and partners. Senator Cornyn emphasized, "The evolving risk this outbreak poses demands a broad, coordinated approach from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, state and local partners, and researchers."

This call for strengthened interagency coordination builds on previous legislative efforts by Senators Cornyn and Klobuchar to enhance resources for preventing and responding to animal disease outbreaks.

The Senators' letter underscores the critical need for a unified response to the avian influenza outbreak to ensure the safety of the U.S. food supply and protect the health of farmworkers and rural communities.