To authorize the establishment of a Center for Plant Disease Control in the Department of Agriculture.
Last action on Mar 19, 2002Executive Comment Requested from USDA.
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Summary
Amends the Plant Protection Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to evaluate the need for establishing a Center for Plant Disease Control in the Department of Agriculture that: (1) would facilitate the compiling of information and the conducting of investigations respecting plant pests; and (2) could act as a first responder in the event of an accidental or deliberate use of a plant pest.
Authorizes the Secretary, if the evaluation supports such need, to establish the Center. Sets forth Center functions, including: (1) development of tools for disease detection and diagnosis, (2) expansion of genomics and plant biotechnology research; and (3) development of foreign and domestic pathogen databases. Provides for Center coordination with Federal and State agencies, in particular the Office of Homeland Security.