Us Code § 321q - Coordination of Department of Homeland Security efforts related to food, agriculture, and veterinary defense against terrorism
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 321q — Coordination of Department of Homeland Security efforts related to food, agriculture, and veterinary defense against terrorism, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 321q. Coordination of Department of Homeland Security efforts related to food, agriculture, and veterinary defense against terrorism
(a) Program required
The Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, shall carry out a program to coordinate the Department's efforts related to defending the food, agriculture, and veterinary systems of the United States against terrorism and other high-consequence events that pose a high risk to homeland security.
(b) Program elements
The coordination program required by subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, the following:
(1) Providing oversight and management of the Department's responsibilities pursuant to Homeland Security Presidential Directive 9–Defense of United States Agriculture and Food.
(2) Providing oversight and integration of the Department's activities related to veterinary public health, food defense, and agricultural security.
(3) Leading the Department's policy initiatives relating to food, animal, and agricultural incidents, and the impact of such incidents on animal and public health.
(4) Leading the Department's policy initiatives relating to overall domestic preparedness for and collective response to agricultural terrorism.
(5) Coordinating with other Department components, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as appropriate, on activities related to food and agriculture security and screening procedures for domestic and imported products.
(6) Coordinating with appropriate Federal departments and agencies.
(7) Other activities as determined necessary by the Secretary.
(c) Rule of construction
Nothing in this section may be construed as altering or superseding the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(Pub. L. 107–296, title V, §528, as added Pub. L. 115–43, §2(a), June 30, 2017, 131 Stat. 884; amended Pub. L. 115–387, §2(f)(5), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5168.)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–387 substituted "the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office," for "Health Affairs,".
About This Section
6 U.S.C. § 321q is part of Title 6 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 6 U.S.C. § 321q. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.