[Page: S3518]

Mr. LUGAR submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry:

S. Con. Res. 24

Whereas the President has begun to implement programs to protect the critical infrastructures of the United States from attack;

Whereas the American agricultural and food supply system, a highly technological and efficient system for growing, processing, distributing, and marketing food and other agricultural products for the world market, is vulnerable to threats and attacks, particularly threats and attacks employing weapons, technologies, and materials of mass destruction;

Whereas the American agricultural and food supply system has not been included in counterterrorism planning;

Whereas critical infrastructure protection efforts must include response planning for potential threats and attacks on the American agricultural and food supply system;

Whereas the Department of Agriculture must play an active role in the coun terterrorism and critical infrastructure preparedness plans of the United States; and

Whereas a successful strategy for protection of the American agricultural and food supply system must also include cooperation with State and local authorities and the private sector: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--

(1) the United States should take steps that are necessary to protect the American agricultural and food supply system from attacks, particularly attacks employing weapons, technologies, and materials of mass destruction; and

(2) the Department of Agriculture should take the lead in protecting the American agricultural and food supply system.

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