U.S. Sens. Smith, Young Renew Bipartisan Push to Improve Public Health Preparedness with Coordinated "One Health" Approach

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) are continuing their bipartisan work to improve public health preparedness by ensuring federal agencies advance a "One Health" approach--the idea that human and animal health are linked, and that they should be studied together--to prevent and respond to disease outbreaks.

We know from the current COVID-19 pandemic--with CDC confirmation that the virus originally came from an animal--that it is vital to make sure our nation is prepared for the future. The Advancing Emergency Preparedness Through One Health Act would improve coordination among those studying animal and human health by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Agriculture Department (USDA), and the Department of Interior (Interior) to adopt a One Health framework with other agencies. U.S. Representatives Kurt Schrader (D-OR 5) and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) introduced bipartisan companion legislation in the House today.

"We sadly are all too familiar with how outbreaks take a real toll on families and our economy. I've pushed adopting a "One Health' approach since I served as Minnesota Lieutenant Governor, and now I'm continuing that work in the Senate while we all navigate combatting COVID-19," said Sen. Smith, a member of both the Senate Health and Ag Committees. "We need to recognize the connection between human, animal and environmental health so future preparedness efforts meet the needs of all people, all ages, and in all communities."

"The COVID-19 pandemic illustrates how we must focus our efforts on better understanding the connection between animal and human health," said Sen. Young. "Instituting a One Health framework at the federal level will help us to improve our knowledge of diseases like COVID-19 so we can best prevent, prepare, and respond to future pandemics and outbreaks."

"Over the last year, we have all experienced firsthand the strong correlation between animal health and human health," said Rep. Kurt Schrader, the only veterinarian currently serving in the United States Congress. "This unique relationship has often been overlooked in how we work across government agencies to address these shared diseases. Beyond the current pandemic, rabies, salmonella, West Nile Virus, and avian flu are all examples of diseases that we see in animals before they are passed onto humans, and can be fatal in both. This bill is an important step to improve preparedness, coordination, and communication between veterinarians who work with animals every day and federal agencies who respond to health outbreaks."

"COVID-19 has further revealed the strong correlation between human health and animal health. A "One Health' approach will ensure America is better prepared to combat disease outbreaks before they become widespread amongst species," said Rep. Dusty Johnson.

The Advancing Emergency Preparedness One Health Act would:

Advance workforce development related to preventing and responding to disease outbreaks in animals and humans;
Improve coordination between federal agencies studying human, animal health, and the environment; and
Foster understanding of the connections between human, animal, and environmental health.

In addition to working to author and pass historic legislation to provide COVID-19 relief to families and businesses, Sen. Smith continues to hear from Minnesotans about the need to combat African Swine Fever, Chronic Wasting Disease and Lyme Disease. In Willmar, Minn. Sen. Smith met with livestock producers and veterinarians at the Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory and heard folks talk about the importance of identifying and monitoring emerging diseases. And more recently, Sen. Smith worked across party lines with Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) to get their bipartisan bill to improve research, prevention, diagnostics, and treatment for tick-borne diseases signed into law as part of a government funding package.