CONGRESSMAN GRAY JOINS VALLEY DELEGATION IN BIPARTISAN CALL FOR VACCINE DEVELOPMENT TO PROTECT VALLEY FARMS

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Adam Gray (D-Merced), member of the House Agriculture Committee, recently joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers representing California’s Central Valley to send a letter to Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins pushing for action to protect dairy and poultry farms from continued avian flu spread.

In the letter, Congressmen Gray, Jim Costa (D-Fresno), David Valadao (R-Hanford), Josh Harder (D-Stockton) and Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield) call on Secretary Rollins to continue efforts to develop and evaluate an H5N1 avian flu vaccine for dairy cattle. Additionally, the Members highlight the need for engagement with trading partners and state and federal coordination ahead of vaccine implementation in order to safeguard Valley dairy exports.

“The State of California is ground zero for conducting research to understand the impacts of this disease,” the Members write. “It is only in 2025 that our constituents are starting to emerge from the most devastating outbreak of bird flu in poultry and livestock in our nation’s history. Our producers, both dairy and poultry, are in unison and prepared to enhance readiness to avoid another 2024-2025-style outbreak.

“As Members of Congress representing the Central Valley of California, we support the unified message from our dairy, poultry, and livestock constituents in urging USDA to take a cautious approach towards an avian influenza H5N1 vaccine for dairy cattle, but with continued research and development support toward creation of a vaccine. We additionally support continued dedication of resources towards cooperative agreements between the state and federal government for human and animal health,” the Members continue.

Congressman Gray’s district in the Central Valley is home to over 5,700 farms, one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world. California produces nearly one-fifth of the nation’s milk supply, and dairy products are the state’s top valued commodity at over $8 billion. 

Since he was sworn into Congress, Congressman Gray has made repeated calls for action on avian flu in his role on the Agriculture Committee.

Read the full text of the letter here.

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