WASHINGTON (May 14, 2025) – Today, the House Agriculture Committee passed their initial reconciliation bill, which contains several NCBA supported provisions that strengthen our defense against foreign animal disease and support producers who have lost cattle due to predator depredation or natural disasters. The legislation now moves to the full House of Representatives for further consideration.

“Cattle farmers and ranchers across the country have continued advocating for tools that protect the cattle industry from foreign animal disease and help producers recover from the loss of their cattle, whether by predator depredation or challenging weather conditions. This legislation is a critical step forward for addressing these issues,” said NCBA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “NCBA appreciates the support of the House Agriculture Committee and Chairman GT Thompson, who continues being a champion for the cattle industry. We urge the full House and Senate to quickly pass this bill so President Trump can sign it into law.”

This bill addresses many of the issues that NCBA members have brought forward through our association’s grassroots policy process. In particular, this bill would:

• Reimburse cattle producers for loss due to depredation by federally protected predators.
• Expand access to the livestock forage disaster program for producers experiencing drought.
  
• Continue funding the feral swine eradication program.
  
• Bolster the “three-legged stool” that protects the cattle industry from foreign animal disease, including the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP), the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), and the National - Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB). The NAVVCB currently houses emergency supplies for responding to a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.