STOP Screwworms Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3392
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-14: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-19T09:08:09Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The STOP Screwworms Act aims to protect U.S. agriculture from the New World screwworm fly, a parasitic pest that infests livestock and wildlife. It mandates the establishment of facilities to rear and release sterile flies as a biological control method to prevent infestations, building on existing pest management strategies.
Key Provisions
- Facility Construction: The Secretary of Agriculture must start building one or more modular rearing facilities for sterile New World screwworm flies within 180 days of the bill's enactment. These facilities will be located in "eligible areas" and will support both rearing the flies and dispersing them to infestation-prone regions.
- Eligible Areas: These are defined as parts of states that are at risk of infestation based on the pest's migration patterns and are suitable for releasing sterile flies to broader at-risk zones.
- Reporting Requirements: The Secretary must submit an annual report to relevant congressional committees (House Agriculture and Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry) and publish it online. The report will cover:
- The current threat to U.S. agriculture from screwworm flies.
- Ongoing efforts to combat migration, including facility construction and operations.
- The effectiveness of these measures.
- Funding: Authorizes $300 million for the Secretary to implement the program, with funds available until spent.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends the Animal Health Protection Act (a federal law focused on preventing animal diseases and pests from entering or spreading in the U.S.) by adding a new section (10409B). It introduces specific requirements for screwworm control infrastructure, which were not previously mandated, shifting from reactive pest response to proactive facility-based prevention.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will face new responsibilities for facility construction, operation, sterile fly production, and annual reporting, potentially increasing administrative and operational workloads but enhancing its pest control capabilities.
- Citizens: Farmers, ranchers, and livestock owners in at-risk areas (particularly in southern states like Texas) will benefit from reduced pest threats, potentially lowering economic losses from animal infestations (screwworms can cause severe wounds and death in livestock). Broader agricultural sectors may see indirect gains through protected supply chains.
- International Relations: As screwworm flies originate from regions like Central and South America, the facilities could support cross-border cooperation with countries like Mexico (via existing USDA programs), aiding regional eradication efforts and trade stability, though the bill focuses domestically.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary: U.S. Department of Agriculture (responsible for implementation) and agricultural producers, especially cattle and livestock industries in southern and border states vulnerable to migration.
- Secondary: State governments in eligible areas (e.g., Texas, given bill sponsors), congressional oversight committees, and international partners in pest control (e.g., through the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service).
- Others: Wildlife managers and rural communities reliant on healthy ecosystems and animal health.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill expands federal authority under the Animal Health Protection Act for pest management without altering core enforcement powers, ensuring compliance through timelines and reporting. It authorizes spending but does not appropriate funds, leaving budgeting to Congress.
- Constitutional: No significant challenges; it aligns with Congress's commerce clause powers to regulate interstate agriculture and animal health, promoting national economic interests without infringing on states' rights (eligible areas involve state consultations).
- Political: Demonstrates bipartisan support (over 20 sponsors from both parties, focused on Texas and agricultural states), highlighting regional priorities for border pest threats. It could influence future farm bills by prioritizing biological controls over chemical methods, potentially reducing environmental concerns associated with pesticides.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (51)
Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5], Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4], Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11], Rep. Ellzey, Jake [R-TX-6], Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15], Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28], Rep. Jackson, Ronny [R-TX-13], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Goldman, Craig A. [R-TX-12], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17], Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36], Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3], Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25], Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1], Rep. Luttrell, Morgan [R-TX-8], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2], Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3], Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18], Rep. Lucas, Frank D. [R-OK-3], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Fischbach, Michelle [R-MN-7], Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Hunt, Wesley [R-TX-38], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19], Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34], Rep. Rogers, Mike D. [R-AL-3], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Kelly, Trent [R-MS-1], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3], Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1], Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] and 1 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-14: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-05-14: Introduced in House
- 2025-05-14: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Strengthening Tactics to Obstruct the Population of Screwworms Act — issued 2025-05-14 — PDF (3 pages)