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House appropriators press Ag secretary on redirecting avian‑flu recovery funds
Summary
At a House Appropriations Committee budget hearing, Agriculture Secretary Redding defended his department’s decision to redirect portions of a restricted high‑path avian influenza (HPAI) recovery fund, saying the state retains a contingency and other animal‑health investments.
At a House Appropriations Committee budget hearing, Agriculture Secretary Redding defended his department’s decision to redirect portions of a restricted high‑path avian influenza (HPAI) recovery account to other priorities, telling lawmakers the state retains a sizable contingency and broader animal‑health investments.
“Over the last 3 years to build a recovery fund... it’s got a balance of 61,500,000.0 for high path AI recovery,” Redding said, adding the fund includes roughly $18,000,000 earmarked for testing and that combining those amounts yields “$80,000,000 in a restricted fund.”
Representative Flood pressed Redding on the move, noting the governor’s proposal shifts prior funding and asking whether the decision was “your decision or recommendation or the decision of the governor?” Flood said the redirection risked Pennsylvania’s poultry industry amid a resurgence of HPAI, telling the committee she was “stunned at the willful redirection of these funds.”
Redding said the department reallocated $25,000,000 from the recovery fund to support innovation grants and food‑assistance efforts, and he argued Pennsylvania’s recovery fund is the only such restricted account in the nation and remains “proven to be critical to our success.” He also told members that, when combined with other animal‑health investments, the department’s total animal‑health funding in the governor’s proposal “probably totaling about $130,000,000.”
Lawmakers cited the potential economic consequences if an HPAI outbreak expands: Flood referenced prior department estimates that Pennsylvania’s egg‑production and related sectors could be affected in the billions of dollars and tens of thousands of jobs. Redding repeated that the department felt “comfortable” with the reallocation because the restricted account and testing dollars remain available if outbreaks worsen.
The exchange did not include a committee vote. Members asked for additional detail on the size and permitted uses of the restricted account and how the department would ensure testing, response and farmer support remain available if HPAI resurges.
The discussion continues to inform budget deliberations; committee members signaled they expect follow‑up material from the department documenting the restricted‑account balance, testing set‑asides and contingency triggers.
