4 versions

CosmeticWhat changed in REFERRED IN SENATEcompared with INTRODUCED IN HOUSE (Jun 23, 2026)

Technical corrections only. The changes between v1 and v4 reflect the bill's progression from being introduced in the House to passing the House and being referred to the Senate. There are no substantive policy changes to the text of the bill itself.

Skipping v2 (REPORTED IN HOUSE) and v3 (ENGROSSED IN HOUSE). Those versions changed too little to need their own analysis, so they reuse INTRODUCED IN HOUSE's. Changes are measured from the most recent version analyzed on its own.

H.R. 9394119th CongressIntroduced Jun 23, 2026

Civil Preparedness for Agroterrorism Exercise Act of 2026

Passed HouseEmergency ManagementSubstantive

View bill text

Sponsor: Rep. Strong, Dale W. [R-AL-5]
Committees: Homeland Security Committee (primary)
Last action: Sep 16, 2026

This analysis was written for v1 (INTRODUCED IN HOUSE, Jun 23, 2026). REFERRED IN SENATE changed too little to need its own, so it reuses that one rather than a rewrite. The differences between the two are summarized above. View v1

Bottom line

H.R. 9394 requires DHS to conduct a large-scale agroterrorism preparedness exercise within four years, aiming to enhance national security and resilience in the critical agriculture and food sectors.

What it actually does

This bill mandates that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conduct a comprehensive exercise focused on preventing, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating acts of agroterrorism. The exercise must include scenarios involving the unlawful transport and deployment of biological agents targeting the agriculture and food critical infrastructure sector, and require coordination across federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector entities. Following the exercise, DHS must submit an after-action report to Congress detailing findings, lessons learned, and recommended legislative actions.

Proponents argue

Supporters argue that proactive exercises are crucial for identifying vulnerabilities, improving interagency coordination, and strengthening the nation's ability to respond to and recover from potential agroterrorism attacks. They contend that the agriculture and food sector is a vital but potentially vulnerable critical infrastructure, and robust preparedness is essential to protect public health, economic stability, and national security.

Opponents contend

Critics might argue that while preparedness is important, mandating specific exercises could be overly prescriptive, potentially diverting resources from other critical homeland security priorities or allowing DHS less flexibility to design exercises that best fit evolving threats. Some might also raise concerns about the potential cost of such a large-scale, multi-stakeholder exercise without a clear funding mechanism.

The bill is concise and straightforward, making it highly accessible for a reader to understand its core purpose and provisions within a short timeframe.

Section 2(a) and (b)

Mandatory Agroterrorism Exercise

prominently featuredstraightforward

This provision requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct a comprehensive exercise within four years of the bill's enactment. The exercise must simulate scenarios where agroterrorists attempt to transport or deploy biological agents that could harm the agriculture and food critical infrastructure sector or related economic sectors. It also mandates collective action among participants to manage and mitigate widespread disruption, including deploying incident command, identifying key resources, and addressing capability gaps.

GroupImpactMechanismScale

GroupDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS)ImpactRequired to plan, execute, and report on a large-scale exercise.MechanismStatutory mandate to conduct the exercise and submit a report.ScaleSignificant operational and resource commitment.

GroupFederal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial agenciesImpactRequired to coordinate and participate in the exercise.MechanismMandatory coordination with DHS for exercise participation.ScaleModerate commitment of personnel and resources for participation.

GroupPrivate sector owners and operators of food and agricultural facilitiesImpactRequired to coordinate and participate in the exercise.MechanismMandatory coordination with DHS for exercise participation.ScaleModerate commitment of personnel and resources for participation.

GroupEmergency preparedness and response communityImpactInclusion in coordination efforts and exercise participation.MechanismMandatory coordination with DHS for exercise participation.ScaleModerate commitment of personnel and resources for participation.

Supporters argue

Proponents argue that this exercise is vital for national security, as it directly addresses a significant, yet often overlooked, threat to the nation's food supply and economy. They believe that by simulating real-world scenarios, the exercise will expose weaknesses in current preparedness, foster better interagency and public-private coordination, and ultimately enhance resilience against agroterrorism.

Critics contend

Opponents might contend that while the goal is laudable, mandating a specific exercise type and timeline could limit DHS's flexibility to adapt to evolving threat landscapes or prioritize other pressing security concerns. They might also argue that existing exercise programs could be adapted to cover agroterrorism without needing a new, specific legislative mandate, potentially leading to redundant efforts or inefficient resource allocation.

Tradeoffs

The bill balances the need for specific, targeted preparedness against the desire for agency flexibility in threat response. It aims to ensure a critical sector is not neglected, but this specificity could potentially constrain DHS's ability to allocate resources to other perceived higher-priority threats or to integrate agroterrorism preparedness into broader, more flexible exercise frameworks.

Section 2(c)

After-Action Report to Congress

mentioned in summarystraightforward

This provision requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit an after-action report to the House and Senate Committees on Homeland Security within 180 days of completing the agroterrorism exercise. The report must detail the exercise's findings, outline plans and a timeline for incorporating lessons learned into future DHS operations to counter agroterrorism, and recommend legislative actions to improve the nation's security posture against such threats.

About this analysis. AI-Generated from the official bill text and available committee reports. Gaps in available data are noted explicitly. Verify important details with the official Congress.gov record.