U.S. House passes public health and agroterrorism preparedness bills

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed several legislative measures aimed at addressing public health threats and national security concerns regarding the food supply.

In a series of public health-focused bills, the House advanced legislation including the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act to improve surveillance of tickborne illnesses, and the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, which seeks to classify xylazine as a Schedule III narcotic while maintaining legal access for veterinary use. Other measures include Tyler’s Law, which directs the Department of Health and Human Services to assist hospitals with fentanyl testing in emergency rooms, and the Stop Pills that Kill Act, designed to close loopholes in counterfeit pill production.

Additionally, the House unanimously passed the Civil Preparedness for Agroterrorism Exercise Act of 2026. Introduced by Representative Dale Strong, this bill mandates that the Department of Homeland Security conduct a nationwide exercise within four years to prepare federal, state, and local partners for potential terrorist attacks targeting the American agricultural sector and food supply chain.