EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Congressman Tony Gonzales and U.S. Senators John Cornyn, Ted Cruz, Ben Ray Luján, Cindy Hyde-Smith, and Martin Heinrich introduced the bipartisan Strengthening Tactics to Obstruct the Population of Screwworms Act, which would authorize funds for and direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to begin construction on a new sterile fly production facility in the United States to combat the growing New World screwworm 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.”
The New World screwworm 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.
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