Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) is not taking it easy as the Christmas cooking season approaches and egg costs are skyrocketing. Gallego recently pushed for quick action to stop the widespread spread of avian influenza by contacting Tom Vilsack, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The request backs Gallego’s continued work to lessen the financial toll that the outbreak is taking on Arizona households. The Office of Rep. Ruben Gallego reports that with egg shortages imminent, Gallego’s urgency draws attention to a critical issue for Arizona, especially in a county where citizens have already been hit by soaring food prices as a result of the avian flu.
Local farmers, such as Glenn Hickman, President of Hickman Family Farms, share Gallego’s concerns. A Pinal County farm was hit by avian flu earlier this month, indicating that residents may have a tight holiday budget due to rising egg prices. According to Gallego, “Without immediate emergency approval of bovine and avian vaccines and mandated use, we are going to continue to play corporate whack-a-mole with the continued devastating results to supply and prices.” A representative from Gallego’s office was informed by Hickman that “we thank Rep. Gallego for his efforts to address this issue and keep prices for Arizona shoppers from skyrocketing.”
Gallego posed a number of important questions in a thorough letter to Secretary Vilsack that his office made public. Research on the virus’s spread and transmission concerns, as well as how it can infect other livestock, were among these questions, as were methods to safeguard the supply chains for eggs and poultry. In order to combat the outbreak and lessen its financial burden on Arizonans and the larger American population, he discussed vaccination studies, biosecurity and transit protocols, and the possibility of international collaboration.
Additionally, Gallego’s letter stressed USDA on the need for resources from Congress and egg imports. To make sure the topic isn’t forgotten, the talks touch on USDA’s readiness for the impending presidential transition. Preventing additional bird flu outbreaks is the main goal in order to keep the price of necessities like dairy and eggs from rising throughout the Christmas season.
Thus, Gallego’s advocacy stems from a practical approach to a health issue that has an impact on families and economies alike. Rep. Gallego stated in a statement from his office that “stopping the avian flu from spreading further will not only protect the domestic egg, poultry, and dairy industries, but it will also keep grocery costs down and protect the health and safety of all Arizonans.”
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