Legislation Would Create U.S.-based Facility to Curb New World Screwworm (NWS) Infestation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales (TX-23) and U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced the bipartisan Strengthening Tactics to Obstruct the Population of Screwworms (STOP Screwworms) Act, which would authorize funds for and direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to begin construction on a new sterile fly production facility in the United States to combat the growing New World screwworm (NWS) outbreak that threatens to wreak havoc on the American cattle and livestock industry.
“Ag producers across America are sounding the alarm—the New World screwworm is making a comeback, and our livestock industry is in real danger. We need to fully eradicate this pest before it’s too late,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales. “The STOP Screwworms Act provides dedicated resources to do just that. By authorizing the construction of a new sterile fly facility in the United States, we reduce our dependence on Latin American partners for eradication efforts and take matters into our own hands.”
“Combatting the destructive New World screwworm is vital to protecting our cattle, Texas producers, and the American livestock industry as a whole,” said Senator John Cornyn. “I am proud to lead this legislation to create a new facility dedicated to pushing these pests away from our border and will continue to work with Secretary Rollins and agriculture leaders across the state to ensure our farmers, ranchers, and producers have the resources they need.”
“Texas agriculture and livestock are a core part of the Texas economy, and they feed America and the world,” said Senator Ted Cruz. “I'm working daily with Secretary Rollins, Texas authorities, and my colleagues in Congress to safeguard Texas from threats including the New World Screwworm, and pushing Mexico to implement their commitments to eradication. This bill will advance those efforts, and Congress should pass it.”
“Given the current screwworm outbreak, Congress must take immediate action to help protect New Mexico's cattle and livestock from this growing threat,” said Senator Ben Ray Luján. “This bipartisan legislation will fund a new sterile fly facility to help stop the spread of the destructive New World screwworm and protect New Mexico’s 1.4 million cattle and calves. This is a critical investment that supports over 10,000 cattle farms and ranches in New Mexico, saves the U.S. livestock industry nearly $1 billion each year, and helps prevent an outbreak in the U.S.”
In the U.S. House of Representatives, the STOP Screwworms Act was also introduced by U.S. Representatives August Pfluger (R-TX), Ronny Jackson (R-TX), Monica De La Cruz (TX), Wesley Hunt (R-TX), Lance Gooden (R-TX), Pat Fallon (R-TX), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Randy Weber (R-TX), Craig Goldman (R-TX), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Brian Babin (R-TX), John Carter (R-TX), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Keith Self (R-TX), Troy Nehls (R-TX), Roger Williams (R-TX), Nathaniel Moran (R-TX), Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Frank Lucas (R-OK), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Derek Schmidt (R-KS), David Valadao (R-CA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), and Burgess Owens (R-UT).
Endorsing Organizations: 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, Livestock Marketing Association of Texas
“We commend the leadership shown by Congressman Gonzales and Senator Cornyn to protect the health and economic viability of the U.S. livestock sector. New World Screwworm is a dangerous invasive pest that will have significant impacts on America’s livestock sector, especially the cattle sector. Any proactive steps we can take now will provide future benefits for farmers, ranchers and the livestock they care for,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President, Zippy Duvall
“When I was growing up, I heard the stories of how damaging the New World screwworm was to our cattle before it was eradicated in the 1960s. I never want to see that kind of devastation return to our country,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Buck Wehrbein, a Nebraska cattleman. “That is why the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is supporting the STOP Screwworms Act so we can construct a sterile fly facility in the United States that will help us prevent this pest from ever returning to our country.”
“Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) thanks Sen. John Cornyn and Congressman Tony Gonzales for introducing the ‘STOP Screwworms Act’ and for being leaders on the New World Screwworm (NWS) issue,” said TFB President Russell Boening. “The NWS is a devastating pest that could cripple the U.S. livestock industry and cause significant losses to livestock and wildlife. It’s critical to be proactive and provide resources for swift response, including the immediate construction of a sterile fly facility. Farmers and ranchers need assurance that their needs will be met, as this pest has not been on the mainland U.S. in many decades. We ask leaders in Washington to take this animal health threat seriously and immediately pass this legislation to protect our country.”
“As the threat of the New World screwworm inches closer to our southern border, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association continues to work with our federal and state governments about possible solutions, with an emphasis on a U.S. sterile fly facility. Congressman Gonzales has been instrumental in raising awareness and garnering support for a proactive approach in Washington, D.C. Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association would like to thank Congressman Gonzales, Senator Cornyn and those who cosponsored their legislation. We look forward to continuing our work that will protect the cornerstone of U.S. agriculture, American beef,” said Carl Ray Polk Jr., Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association President.
"LMA applauds Congressman Gonzales and Senator Cornyn for introducing the Stop Screwworms Act to take a crucial step towards safeguarding our livestock industry. Establishing a sterile fly facility in the United States will ensure continued action to prevent the spread of New World Screwworm and protect our cattle herd, nation's food supply, and the livelihoods of countless farmers and ranchers,” said Brody Peak, Chairman of LMA's Government and Industry Affairs Committee.
Background:
The New World screwworm (NWS) is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on livestock, wildlife, and in rare cases, humans, and populations are moving toward the United States at an alarming rate. They can cause serious damage to their host, including death.
Currently, the United States relies on Mexico and Central American partners to form a “barrier” against the northward migration of the screwworm, but cases have surged recently, prompting concern that foreign intervention has been insufficient. Last year, NWS was detected in the Mexican state of Chiapas, and additional cases have since been detected, spreading north throughout the Mexican states of Campeche and Tabasco. A domestic NWS outbreak in the United States would wreak havoc across the livestock industry and detrimentally impact wildlife populations. Taking proactive measures to establish a U.S.-based facility is a national defense against a costly and deadly agricultural crisis.
In March, Congressman Gonzales led a bipartisan letter with 43 of his colleagues, including several U.S. Representatives seated on the House Committee on Agriculture and House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand eradication and containment efforts relating to the NWS. USDA Secretary Rollins has been consistently engaged on this matter and has testified in Congress on addressing the NWS. This week, the USDA announced the suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports through the southern border in response to the growing spread of the NWS and recent outbreaks in Mexico.
This new, U.S.-based facility would produce sterile male screwworm flies that would be released into infested areas to help combat the growth of the screwworm population. The sterile fly technique was instrumental in eradicating NWS from the United States in the 1960s and from Mexico in the '90s, as sterile male flies can outcompete local populations and effectively wipe out an entire generation of screwworms in a given area.
For bill text, click here.
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