President Trump recently signed a new bill that would increase the support for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This comes in the wake of the Covid-19 virus and African Swine Fever. The purpose of this bill is to increase the number of inspectors in hopes of preventing any more spread of these viruses.
Scott Bennett, the AFBF’s Executive Director of Government Affairs, says that it’s all done in hopes of keeping people and animals safe. He stated that the new measures are about “having the increased funds for border inspection to try and mitigate, not only African Swine Fever and other diseases and viruses coming into our country, but things that affect the public health, like the coronavirus.”
For the millions of pounds of agricultural goods crossing the border, it is estimated that there is a shortage of more than 500 of inspectors.
