WASHINGTON – In the wake of a bird flu outbreak that has killed millions of chickens nationwide and more than 100,000 in Alabama, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville joined Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) in introducing the bipartisan “Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act.”
“Our farmers are in desperate need of help if they are going to continue to feed, fuel, and clothe our country,” said Tuberville (R-Auburn). “As Alabama’s voice on the Senate Ag Committee, I want to find targeted ways to address the needs of our agriculture community.”
The legislation would expand USDA compensation to all poultry farmers in a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) control zone, rather than only pertaining to those whose flocks are infected.
Alabama recently experienced a bird flu outbreak in Cullman and Pickens counties, resulting in the loss of more than 116,000 chickens.
“Our state ranks number two nationally in broiler chicken production, and our chicken producers cannot stay in business when they are losing out on profits from entire flocks,” Tuberville said. “As we put together this year’s Farm Bill, I will keep working hard to ensure Alabama’s farmers have the help they need to keep our state at the forefront of food production.”
More than 138 million birds have been affected by HPAI since 2022, with cases found in all 50 states. APHIS has reported 79 new cases of HPAI over 31 states in the past 30 days.
Under APHIS policies, all poultry farms located within 10-kilometer radius of a HPAI case are disallowed from placing flocks until the virus is contained. Afterward, all growers who have positive tests in their flocks receive compensation from the USDA, but not those within the 10-kilometer control area whose flocks do not contract HPAI.
The “Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act” is endorsed by the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Chicken Council, United Egg Producers, Delmarva Chicken Association, Alabama Farm Bureau, and 17 state farm bureaus.
