119-hr3806

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3806 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 3806

 To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to study and report on 
 strategies to combat the New World screwworm and enhance the United 
 States' preparedness and response capabilities against potential 
 outbreaks.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 June 6, 2025

Ms. De La Cruz (for herself, Mr. Babin, Mr. Roy, Mr. Pfluger, Mr. Tony 
 Gonzales of Texas, Mr. Gooden, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Williams 
 of Texas, Mr. Nehls, Mr. Arrington, and Mr. Gill of Texas) introduced 
 the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to study and report on 
 strategies to combat the New World screwworm and enhance the United 
 States' preparedness and response capabilities against potential 
 outbreaks.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``New World Screwworm Preparedness Act 
of 2025''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

 Congress finds the following:

    (1) The New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) (in 
 this section referred to as ``NWS'') is a parasitic fly whose 
 larvae infest and feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded 
 animals, including livestock, wildlife, and, in rare cases, 
 humans.

    (2) NWS infestations can lead to severe damage, secondary 
 infections, and often death in affected animals, posing a 
 significant threat to agricultural economies, wildlife 
 populations, and public health.

    (3) The United States successfully eradicated NWS in the 
 1960s through significant efforts, primarily utilizing the 
 sterile insect technique, which involves releasing sterile male 
 flies to disrupt reproduction in wild populations.

    (4) Recent outbreaks and confirmed detections of NWS in 
 neighboring countries, particularly Mexico, indicate an 
 increasing risk of reintroduction and establishment of NWS 
 within the United States.

    (5) Proactive measures, including enhanced surveillance, 
 rapid response capabilities, and continued research into 
 innovative control methods, are critical to preventing a 
 widespread NWS outbreak and mitigating its potential economic 
 and ecological impact.

SEC. 3. STUDY AND REPORT ON NEW WORLD SCREWWORM PREPAREDNESS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 
Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (in 
this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall conduct a 
comprehensive study on the current State of United States preparedness 
and response capabilities to combat the New World screwworm (in this 
section referred to as ``NWS'').

    (b) Components of the Study.--The study under this section shall 
include the following:

    (1) Current threat assessment.--An analysis of the current 
 threat posed by NWS to the United States, including--
        (A) the migratory patterns and confirmed detections 
 of NWS in countries bordering the United States;
        (B) the potential pathways for NWS introduction 
 into the United States;
            (C) the economic impact of a potential NWS outbreak 
 on the United States livestock industry, including 
 cattle, swine, and other susceptible animals; and
            (D) the ecological impact of a potential NWS 
 outbreak on domestic wildlife populations.

    (2) Sterile insect technique capabilities.--A review of the 
 United States capacity to produce and deploy sterile NWS flies, 
 including--
        (A) the current status and capacity of existing NWS 
 sterile fly production facilities;
        (B) the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of 
 establishing new or expanding existing modular NWS 
 sterile fly rearing facilities within the United 
 States, including potential locations based on risk 
 assessment; and
            (C) the logistical requirements for effective 
 dispersal of sterile flies in areas at risk of 
 infestation.

    (3) Surveillance and detection systems.--An evaluation of 
 current NWS surveillance and detection systems, including--
        (A) the effectiveness of border inspection 
 protocols for live animals;
        (B) the adequacy of diagnostic capabilities and 
 laboratory infrastructure; and
            (C) the integration of public and private sector 
 reporting mechanisms for suspected NWS cases.

    (4) Emergency response plans.--An examination of existing 
 emergency response plans for NWS outbreaks, including--
        (A) the coordination mechanisms between Federal, 
 State, and local agencies;
        (B) the availability of resources for rapid 
 containment and eradication efforts; and
            (C) protocols for animal movement restrictions and 
 public outreach during an outbreak.

    (5) Research and development needs.--Identification of 
 critical research and development needs to enhance NWS 
 prevention, control, and eradication, including--
        (A) new diagnostic tools;
        (B) improved sterile insect techniques;
            (C) alternative control methods; and
            (D) genetic research into NWS vulnerabilities.

    (6) International cooperation.--An assessment of the 
 effectiveness of current international co-operation efforts 
 with affected countries and recommendations for strengthening 
 such partnerships to establish and maintain biological 
 barriers.
            (c) Stakeholder Consultation.--In conducting the study under this 
section, the Secretary shall consult with relevant stakeholders, 
including--

    (1) livestock producers and industry associations;

    (2) wildlife management agencies;

    (3) veterinary professionals;

    (4) scientific experts in entomology, epidemiology, and 
 animal health; and

    (5) State and local agricultural and public health 
 officials.
            (d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, and make publicly 
available, a report--

    (1) detailing the findings of the study under this section; 
 and

    (2) providing recommendations for legislative and 
 administrative actions to improve the United States' ability to 
 combat NWS.
 <all>