{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-gabe-vasquez-introduces-bipartisan-solution-protect-americas-herds-new", "Rep. Gabe Vasquez Introduces Bipartisan Solution to Protect America\u2019s Herds From New World Screwworm", "2026-06-18", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "NM", "Gabe Vasquez", "V000136", "vasquez.house.gov", "vasquez", "https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. \u2013 On June 18, 2026 \u2014 following confirmed cases of the New World screwworm (NWS) in Texas and New Mexico \u2014 U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) introduced the Protecting America\u2019s Herds Act, an innovative, bipartisan solution to combat the spread of the parasite, herd loss, and a jump in beef prices.\n\nThe bill \u2014 which has 13 cosponsors from both sides of the aisle, including Rep. Leger-Fern\u00e1ndez \u2014 helps ranchers fight NWS by funding local experts who can train inspectors, inspect livestock, educate producers, and provide the hands-on support needed to catch outbreaks early and stop them from spreading.\n\nThe bill has been endorsed by the National Cattlemen\u2019s Beef Association, New Mexico State University, the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, the Public Lands Council, and Rocky Mountain Farmers Union.\n\n\u201cFor New Mexicans, the New World screwworm is not a distant problem. It's here, right in our backyard. That's why I'm raising the alarm in Congress and leading a bipartisan effort to make sure lawmakers understand this isn't just a New Mexico or Southwest issue \u2014 it's a national threat to our food supply, our ranchers, and American families \u2014 and we need to respond now,\u201d said Vasquez. \u201cOur ranchers have already been hit by years of drought, rising input costs, and record-low cattle herds. The last thing we need is a flesh-eating parasite threatening their herds and driving up beef prices for American families. That's why I'm leading this bill and calling on USDA to ramp up staffing, speed the completion of the sterile fly production facility, and give producers the resources they need to detect and stop this outbreak before it gets worse.\u201d\n\nThe NWS was eradicated from the U.S. in 1966, meaning many producers today have never encountered the pest. This bill provides the essential training and support they need to prevent the outbreak from spiraling into a crisis through early detection and rapid response efforts.\n\nSpecifically, the bill would equip the Cooperative Extension System to:\n\nTrain personnel and producers on New World screwworm identification, treatment, management, prevention, and reporting through workshops, direct technical assistance, field demonstrations, and outreach campaigns\n\nAllow Extension agents to act as livestock inspectors and deputize them to train and hire additional livestock inspectors\n\nEnhance coordination with USDA APHIS, veterinarians, state animal health officials, and Tribal agricultural programs\n\nPrioritize funding for states and Tribal communities at elevated risk of NWS introduction or spread\n\nVasquez unveiled his bill at a briefing and press conference he and Representative Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez convened in Albuquerque today with agriculture and livestock experts from across New Mexico, as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition to introducing this new bipartisan solution, Vasquez called on the USDA to expedite the completion of the sterile fly production facility in Texas \u2014 a vital project that he requested a status update on from Secretary Rollins back in mid-April ahead of the peak summer outbreak season.\n\n\u201cWhen extreme weather and disease shrink our U.S. cattle herds, ranchers struggle and American consumers feel the pain at the grocery store with rising beef prices,\u201d said Vasquez back in April. \u201cInstead of undermining U.S. ranchers by importing foreign beef from Argentina, the USDA should be focused on doing everything it can to improve, strengthen, and protect our domestic cattle herds \u2014 including taking steps to prevent outbreaks of the New World Screwworm. It is critical that the Administration continue to work with Congress and industry to ensure that everyone is on the same page to effectively mitigate any widespread outbreak of NWS in the U.S. before it devastates American ranchers.\u201d\n\nDuring the briefing, livestock officials also noted they do not expect the NWS outbreak to materially impact beef prices and flagged for consumers that American beef products remain safe for consumption.\n\nState and federal experts who attended today\u2019s briefing and shared updates, insights, and recommendations included:\n\nNew Mexico Department of Agriculture\n\nLes Owen, Deputy Secretary\n\nNew Mexico Livestock Board\n\nBelinda Garland, Executive Director\n\nSamantha Holeck, State Veterinarian\n\nDairy Producers of New Mexico\n\nBeverly Idsinga, Executive Director\n\nNew Mexico State University - Extension Office\n\nTom Dean, Department Head for Cooperative Extension Service\n\nNew Mexico Department of Game and Fish\n\nStewart Liley, Chief of Wildlife Management\n\nNew Mexico Cattle Growers\u2019 Association\n\nDr. Tom Paterson, President\n\nNew Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau\n\nLarry Reagan, President\n\nU.S. Department of Agriculture - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service\n\nDr. Sara Ahola, New World Screwworm National Incident Coordinator\n\nCosponsors of the Protecting America's Herds Act include Representatives Sharice Davids (KS-03), Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (NM-03), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Shomari Figures (AL-02), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Josh Harder (CA-09), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Marc Veasey (TX-33), and Michael McCaul (TX-10).\n\n\u201cThe first confirmed case of New World screwworm in New Mexico is a reminder that we cannot take our agricultural security for granted. Ranchers, producers, veterinarians, and agricultural experts have been warning about this threat for months and calling for stronger preparation before it reached our communities,\u201d said Leger-Fern\u00e1ndez. \u201cUnfortunately, the federal response did not match the urgency of the moment. Now that screwworm has arrived, we have a responsibility to step up and give our producers the tools they need to protect their herds. The Protecting America\u2019s Herds Act will help provide the training, technical assistance, and local support needed to identify outbreaks early, respond quickly, and limit the damage to livestock, rural economies, and the families who depend on them.\u201d\n\n\u201cProtecting our livestock means protecting rural jobs and our economy,\u201d said Rep. Veasey (TX-33). \u201cThe Protecting America\u2019s Herds Act gives producers the resources they need to stay ahead of threats before they become costly crises and invests in the safeguards needed to keep destructive pests from reaching our livestock.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the New World Screwworm has now been found in the United States, it\u2019s critical that we take an all-hands on deck approach to identify and address new cases. Even in small states like Maine, a screwworm outbreak can have an outsized impact, especially at a time when families are already dealing with rising costs in every facet of their lives,\u201d said Rep. Pingree (ME-01). \u201cThis commonsense legislation would give states the tools and people power they need to stop this outbreak in its tracks, while improving their ability to respond to future threats.\u201d\n\n\"These parasitic swarms kill livestock, drive up milk and beef prices, and can even infect humans \u2014 we have to stop this outbreak before it spreads even more,\" said Rep. Harder (CA-09). \"This bill jumpstarts detection and prevention efforts by giving dairies and ranchers the support they need to keep their livestock healthy. Passing this bill ASAP should be a no-brainer.\"\n\n\u201cA strong agricultural economy depends on giving producers the resources they need to prepare for challenges before they become crises. The New World screwworm is a threat we cannot ignore,\u201d said Rep. Thompson (MS-02). \u201cBy strengthening Cooperative Extension Services, this legislation will help producers detect infestations early, protect their livestock, and improve our ability to respond before outbreaks become more widespread. Taking these steps now will help protect our agricultural economy, support rural communities, and strengthen our nation's food supply.\u201d\n\n\"Before it was eradicated half a century ago, New World Screwworm wreaked havoc on livestock and ruthlessly damaged agricultural economies across the southwest,\u201d said Rep. McCaul (TX-10). \u201cPreventing a similar tragedy will require re-education, training, and additional resources to swiftly detect cases and stop new infections. I\u2019m proud to support this important legislation to protect Texans\u2019 livestock and livelihoods from this brutal parasite.\u201d\n\n\"The New World screwworm is here. It has reached New Mexico, putting our ranchers, livestock, wildlife, and rural economies at risk,\u201d said Rep. Stansbury (NM-01). \u201cScrewworm could cause devastating loss if not detected and contained quickly, and that's why we need the Protecting America's Herds Act. This bill will ensure farmers and local communities have the technical assistance and resources they need to identify, prevent, and respond to screwworm before it spreads. New Mexico is on the frontlines of this threat, and this bill is one of the solutions to protect our herds and the communities that depend on them.\"\n\nHere\u2019s what endorsing organizations have to say about the bill:\n\n\u201cI strongly support this important legislation to enhance our state\u2019s preparedness and response to the New World screwworm. By investing in the training of Extension professionals, strengthening producer outreach, and equipping our local offices to serve as trusted resources, this bill ensures that New Mexicans have timely access to science-based information and assistance,\u201d said Jon Boren, the Associate Dean and Director at New Mexico State University\u2019s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. \u201cThis proactive approach will help protect animal health, safeguard our agricultural economy, and strengthen the resilience of communities across New Mexico. We appreciate this commitment to prevention, education, and rapid response.\u201d\n\n\u201cExtension agents and their staff are among the most trusted agricultural professionals in many communities. They know our producers, understand local conditions, and can play a critical role in educating the public and helping detect New World screwworm in our livestock,\u201d said Tom Paterson, President of the New Mexico Cattle Growers\u2019 Association. \u201cCongressman Vasquez is proposing a practical, common-sense approach that strengthens our frontline defenses against a devastating livestock pest. New Mexico Cattle Growers strongly supports this legislation and appreciates his leadership on this issue.\u201d\n\n\u201cRocky Mountain Farmers Union believes that expanding access to technical assistance for producers is a critical investment in the long-term health and resilience of the U.S. livestock industry,\u201d said Chad Franke, President of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. \u201cEnhanced support helps safeguard our nation's cattle herd, strengthen rural economies, and provide producers with tools to help address emerging challenges. This is especially urgent as threats such as New World Screwworm continue to grow and the U.S. cattle herd is at a 75-year low.\u201d\n\n\u201cEradicating New World screwworm half a century ago required a full-court press, leveraging partnerships at the federal, state, and local levels. Eradicating the current outbreak in New Mexico and Texas will require the same level of investment. Mobilizing Cooperative Extension agents in the fight against this pest is a practical use of existing expertise and personnel on the ground,\u201d said the National Cattlemen\u2019s Beef Association. \u201cWe appreciate Congressman Vasquez\u2019s focus on this urgent issue facing New Mexico ranchers.\u201d\n\n\u201cCooperative Extension Specialists play a significant role in research and technical assistance for many rural communities across the West. Congressman Vasquez\u2019s support for utilizing their capacity and expertise to support livestock producers, federal lands grazing permittees, wildlife partners, and state and federal partners will allow the kind of close coordination that will be necessary to eradicate New World screwworm,\" said Kaitlynn Glover, Executive Director of the Public Lands Council.\n\nRep. Vasquez has long been an ardent supporter of New Mexico\u2019s ranchers and cattle growers. Some of his recent work to support them includes:\n\nLast year, he sounded the alarm on NWS by calling on the USDA to take immediate steps to protect ranchers while balancing the interests of New Mexico\u2019s small businesses.\n\nHe was also integral in securing the necessary funding to build a sterile fly production and dispersal facility through the STOP Screwworms Act, legislation that required the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a New World Screwworm fly rearing facility to combat the spread of Screwworms.\n\nOn March 3, 2026, Rep. Vasquez secured unanimous, bipartisan support in the House Agriculture Committee for his Farm Bill amendment condemning the Administration\u2019s push to prioritize Argentinian beef imports at the expense of our American cattle ranchers. The amendment ultimately passed out of the House in the Farm Bill.\n\nIn 2024, Vasquez adamantly opposed the Biden administration\u2019s push to import beef from Paraguay. No matter the political party, Rep. Vasquez is fully committed to fighting for American ranchers.\n\n\u201cRep. Vasquez, you are a hero for eliminating red tape. We appreciate what you did with the Farm Bill provisions. We appreciate your vote and support of the Farm Bill to remove red tape,\u201d said Dr. Tom Paterson, President of the New Mexico Cattle Growers\u2019 Association, during today\u2019s briefing.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-gabe-vasquez-introduces-bipartisan-solution-protect-americas-herds-new"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.938979072496295, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}