Senate leader to push agro-terrorism bill

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., is developing a $700 million agro-terrorism program that would be part of the $3 billion anti- terrorism bill, a spokesman said.

The spokesman said the agro-terrorism measure would include increased protection of USDA labs and a program to increase security at food processing plants through measures such as a crisis management center at the Agriculture Department. If a terrorist attack occurred, USDA immediately would notify other plants around the country.

The bill also would include an increase in the number of inspectors at the Food Safety and Inspection Service, increased border inspection, the country-of-origin meat labeling bill already proposed by Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., and removal of the USDA stamp from all but U.S.-produced meat.