The STOP Screwworms would create a facility to curb New World screwworm population growth
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration, joined U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) to introduce the bipartisan Strengthening Tactics to Obstruct the Population of Screwworms (STOP Screwworms) Act, legislation to authorize funds for and direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to begin construction on a new sterile fly production facility to combat the growing New World screwworm (NWS) outbreak that threatens to wreak havoc on the American cattle industry.
“The New World Screwworm poses a growing threat to New Mexico livestock, jeopardizing ranchers’ livelihoods, and putting our food supply at risk. I’m proud to join Senators Cornyn and Luján to introduce bipartisan legislation that will help us tackle this problem now and prevent outbreaks in the future,” said Heinrich, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration.”
“Given the current screwworm outbreak, Congress must take immediate action to help protect New Mexico’s cattle and livestock from this growing threat,” said Luján, a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. “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.”
“Combatting the destructive New World screwworm is vital to protecting our cattle, Texas producers, and the American livestock industry as a whole,” said 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.”
“The recent screwworm outbreak is deeply concerning, and without immediate action and adequate preparation, the consequences for New Mexico’s cattle and livestock industries could be devastating,” said Larry Reagan, New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau President. “This legislation is a critical step in ensuring the nation is prepared to respond effectively and New Mexico’s farmers and ranchers are protected.”
The STOP Screwworms is led by Luján and Cornyn. Alongside Heinrich, the legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.). Congressman Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) was the lead sponsor of the House version.
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. 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 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.
This legislation is endorsed by the American Farm Bureau Federation, the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, the Texas Farm Bureau, the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, and the South Texans’ Property Rights Association.
Full bill text is available here.
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