Source: National Pork Producers Council news release
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Senate passed by a slim margin–with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tiebreak–its version of the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” It includes many provisions important to pork, among them tax and animal health language.
National Pork Producers Council President Duane Stateler, a pork producer from McComb, Ohio, said, “We appreciate the efforts of Agriculture Chair John Boozman and other Senate leadership to ensure key animal health provisions were included in the bill, along with tax and other measures important to agriculture. Foreign animal diseases (FADs) threaten not only the livelihoods of pork producers but also our food supply chain at large. We thank our congressional leaders for these important steps to help keep our pork supplies safe, secure, and affordable for American familie.”
The legislation fully funds measures and programs that help prevent, prepare for, and respond to FADs, including $233 million per fiscal year for the following:
$10 million per year for the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN)
$70 million per year for the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP)
$153 million per year for the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB)
The package also extends several key provisions of President Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which are set to expire or begin phasing out at the end of 2025. These include provisions advantageous to agriculture related to bonus depreciation, estate tax exemptions, Section 179 expensing, and the qualified business income deduction.
The House version of the bill contains similar tax and animal health provisions. The next step on the path to passage is House consideration of the changes included in the Senate bill passed July 1. NPPC is hopeful for swift passage to preserve these key inclusions.
