SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — Today, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to reinstate the Cross-Border Threat Screening and Supply Chain Defense (CBTS) Center of Excellence at Texas A&M University. The CBTS Center of Excellence at Texas A&M University assists state and federal agencies in protecting our borders, economy, and supply chains, though federal funding was halted in April by the Department of Homeland Security.
With new cases of the New World screwworm (NWS), a flesh-eating parasite that hosts on cattle, livestock, and wildlife, being detected in the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon, just 70 miles from the Texas-Mexico border, Congressman Gonzales expressed the urgent need to reinstate the center as a resource to advance detection technologies, train personnel, and identify invasive pest pathways and risk areas before they disrupt U.S. supply chains, particularly as it relates to the New World screwworm.
Texas U.S. Representatives Monica De La Cruz (TX-15), Pete Sessions (TX-17), Michael McCaul (TX-10), Keith Self (TX-03), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Nathaniel Moran (TX-01), Randy Weber (TX-14), Brian Babin (TX-36), John Carter (TX-31), August Pfluger (TX-11), and Morgan Luttrell (TX-08), signed on to support of Congressman Gonzales’ letter to the Department of Homeland Security.
"As members of the Texas congressional delegation, we respectfully urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to reinstate the Cross-Border Threat Screening and Supply Chain Defense (CBTS) Center of Excellence at Texas A&M University. CBTS is in strategic proximity to an expansive portion of the southwest border and provides unique capabilities for innovation, training, and test and evaluation of border security technologies and methods. More importantly, the CBTS mission space encompasses naturally occurring and man-made biological threats—including the widespread outbreak of the re-emergent New World screwworm (NWS), flesh-eating larvae that are spreading northward through Mexico.
"CBTS is ready to equip DHS with research, training, and rapid-response capabilities essential to counter all-hazards border threats, including New World screwworm. We strongly urge DHS to promptly reinstate CBTS as an active Center of Excellence to ensure the nation remains prepared and resilient,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales in the letter to DHS.
“The Cross-Border Threat Screening and Supply Chain Defense Center of Excellence at Texas A&M AgriLife has the expertise and tools to support DHS to keep our borders, economy, and food supply secure,” said Dr. Cliff Lamb, Director, AgriLife Research. "Reinstating the center ensures we are prepared to respond quickly to emerging threats like the New World Screwworm before they reach U.S. soil.”
Each DHS Center of Excellence (COE) is led by a U.S. college or university in partnership with other academic institutions, industry, national laboratories, federally funded research and development centers, state, local, tribal, and territorial homeland security agencies, and first responder groups. By leveraging extensive public and private networks, COEs can conduct groundbreaking research resulting in rigorous, objective knowledge products and timely solutions for DHS Components.
The Centers of Excellence have existed since 2002, when Congress mandated their creation as part of the Homeland Security Act passed after 9/11.
Background on Congressman Gonzales’ Results in Addressing the NWS Threat:
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In September, Congressman Gonzales launched the New World Screwworm (NWS) Working Group consisting of federal and state lawmakers, various agricultural, livestock, wild game associations, scientists, veterinarian experts, and Texas farmers and ranchers.
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Congressman Gonzales requested more information from the FDA on actions taken to authorize treatments and issue guidance for animal drugs to treat or prevent an NWS outbreak. (September 2025)
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Today, the FDA announced the conditional approval of an injectable drug, Dectomax-CA1, to prevent and treat NWS infestations. Dectomax-CA1 is conditionally approved for use only in cattle.
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Congressman Gonzales requested that the USDA consider economic aid and other appropriate options for the beef, livestock, and wild game industries. (September 2025)
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Congressman Gonzales joined USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Texas Governor Greg Abbott in Austin to announce the USDA’s $750 million commitment to fund and build a domestic sterile fly production facility to enhance NWS containment and eradication efforts. (August 2025)
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Congressman Gonzales penned a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., urging coordination between HHS, the USDA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and pharmaceutical manufacturers to fast-track approvals and labeling of anti-parasitic treatments for livestock.
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In August, HHS granted authorization to lessen restrictions on certain drugs that can help treat and prevent a screwworm infestation.
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Congressman Gonzales joined USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins in South Texas, announcing a sweeping five-pronged plan to enhance USDA’s ability to detect, control, and eliminate the NWS. (June 2025)
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Congressman Gonzales introduced the bipartisan Strengthening Tactics to Obstruct the Population of Screwworms (STOP Screwworms) Act, alongside Texas Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, to support funding for a sterile fly production facility in the United States. (May 2025)
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The bill was endorsed by the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Livestock Marketing Association, American Livestock Markets and Dealers Association, Texas Farm Bureau, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, and Livestock Marketing Association of Texas.
- Through his seat on the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Gonzales secured a provision that doubled the initial funding for screwworm eradication efforts in the agriculture budget from $5.5 million to $10 million.
- Congressman Gonzales led a bipartisan initiative with 43 of his colleagues, including several U.S. Representatives seated on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, urging the USDA to expand eradication and containment efforts relating to the NWS. (March 2025)
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