The co-chairs of the Congressional and Senate Chicken Caucuses – Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Chris Coons (D-DE) and Reps. Steve Womack (R-AR) and Jim Costa (D-CA) – yesterday wrote to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to seek assurances to protect U.S. chicken exports should vaccination be contemplated as part of any government strategy to combat Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI or “bird flu”).
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In addition to Brooke Rollins’ confirmation as Secretary of Agriculture, the Senate yesterday also confirmed Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services, which oversees the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), among other health agencies. The 52-48 vote was largely along party lines, though Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, a polio survivor, once again joined with Democrats to oppose the nomination.
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