Bill Introduced to Protect Poultry Growers Against Avian Flu Outbreaks

U.S. Senators Chris Coons along with Roger Wicker of Mississippi have introduced a bill to better financially protect poultry growers against avian flu outbreaks. The Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act (HPAI ACT) would ensure that all poultry growers and laying operations in highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) control areas whose operations are affected receive compensation. This bill was previously introduced in the 118th Congress. Senator Coons says as avian flu cases rise in Delaware, it’s vital that we have smart policies in place that protect Delaware’s independent family farmers and poultry growers both medically and financially. This legislation is endorsed by the Delaware Department of Agriculture, the Delmarva Chicken Association, the National Chicken Council, the United Egg Producers, the Delta Council, and the American Farm Bureau Federation. 

Additional Information:

Specifically, the HPAI Act would:

• Expand USDA-APHIS compensation to all poultry farmers in an HPAI control area. The program currently only compensates farmers whose flocks test positive, not those in the control area who are disallowed from placing flocks until the virus is contained, which sometimes takes months. 
• Simplify the calculation of indemnity. The payments to farmers will be calculated based on the average income they earned from the last five flocks. This method is more transparent and ensures that farmers will not face a cash shortfall in the face of an HPAI outbreak in their area.