Agroterrorism Prevention Act of 2001

The Agroterrorism Prevention Act of 2001 (H.R. 2795) was a legislative proposal designed to protect the nation’s food supply and agricultural research by establishing federal crimes for "plant enterprise terrorism." The bill sought to increase criminal penalties for attacks on both animal and plant-related businesses, including the use of arson or explosives, and allowed for the death penalty in cases resulting in loss of life.

For the average citizen, the bill’s primary impact would have been the increased legal protection of agricultural infrastructure and research facilities, such as university labs and commercial farms. It aimed to deter eco-terrorism and sabotage by requiring the National Science Foundation to track related crimes and providing grants to colleges and universities to upgrade their security systems. Additionally, the bill would have allowed victims of these crimes to seek full restitution for economic damages, including lost farm income and the costs of ruined scientific experiments.