WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Josh Riley (NY-19) joined a bipartisan group of House Agriculture Committee members in introducing the Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act (HPAIA) to support family farmers, bring down grocery prices and stop the spread of avian flu.

The bipartisan push comes as counties across upstate New York continue to battle the spread of avian flu, with several confirmed cases reported in the last week. 

When avian flu hits a farm, nearby poultry farmers within a 10-kilometer radius of a case cannot introduce new birds into their existing flock until the virus is contained, a process that can take many months. Under current law, only farms with confirmed positive cases of avian flu are eligible for USDA financial compensation, leaving neighboring farms to fend for themselves. This bill is a long overdue fix that ensures that all affected farms can receive compensation they deserve so they can keep their doors open and resume production, supporters said.

“When a crisis hits, we can’t leave family farmers behind while big corporations drive up your grocery prices and their profits,” said Riley.