Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act of 2025
Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act of 2025 (HR 1376) - Summary **What the bill does:** This bill would expand federal compensation for poultry farmers affected by disease control measures. Currently, the government only compensates farmers for birds that are actually diseased, suspected of being diseased, or exposed to diseases like bird flu. This bill would require the government to also compensate farmers whose flocks are healthy but located in "buffer zones" around infected areas—meaning they're prohibited from raising or selling birds even though their birds aren't sick.
The bill would also establish a new formula for calculating these compensation payments. **Who it affects:** The primary beneficiaries would be poultry growers and egg-laying operations located near bird flu outbreaks or other disease control zones. When disease outbreaks occur, the government sometimes restricts all poultry farming across wider areas to prevent spread, which can financially devastate farmers whose operations aren't directly infected. This bill aims to help those farmers recover losses. **Current status:** The bill was introduced in 2025 by Representative Jim Costa (D-CA) and is currently in committee, meaning it hasn't yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives.
CRS Official Summary
Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act of 2025This bill expands the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) producer indemnity and compensation program to include compensation for all poultry growers and layers located in an APHIS-determined control area, which may include non-infected poultry. Currently, APHIS provides indemnity and compensation to producers to remove animals classified as affected, suspect, or exposed to diseases of concern, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). An APHIS-determined control area consists of both an infected zone and a buffer zone. Under the bill, APHIS must compensate all owners of poultry growing or laying facilities for flocks of birds that the facility owner was prohibited from growing or laying due to the location of the facility within a control area. This may include facilities that are located in the buffer zones and have non-infected poultry.Further, the bill establishes a new compensation payment formula that requires payments to be based on the owner’s average income from the five most recent flocks. Under the bill, APHIS's compensation determination is final and not subject to judicial or administrative review (other than by the Secretary of Agriculture or a designee).
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.