SAFE CATTLE Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7466
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-02T08:07:18Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The SAFE CATTLE Act (H.R. 7466) aims to enhance federal coordination to prevent, control, and eradicate the New World screwworm—a parasitic fly larva that infests and can kill animals—specifically in wildlife and non-livestock species on certain federal lands. The goal is to protect ecosystems, stabilize domestic animal agriculture, and safeguard the U.S. food supply and economy from this invasive pest threat.
Key Provisions
- Interagency Agreement: Within 180 days of enactment, the Secretary of Agriculture (overseeing USDA) and the Secretary of the Interior (overseeing DOI bureaus like the National Park Service) must enter a memorandum of understanding (MOU) or similar agreement to coordinate activities on "covered lands" (federal lands managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, or Forest Service).
- Core Activities:
- Develop joint surveillance and monitoring protocols for early detection in wildlife and non-livestock animals.
- Coordinate outbreak responses with state wildlife and livestock health officials, including information sharing and notifications.
- Establish eradication protocols to protect wildlife and non-livestock species while reducing risks to livestock and the food supply.
- Create science-based, risk-assessed systems to allow business continuity for unaffected animals and areas during outbreaks.
- Reporting Requirements: Joint annual reports to congressional committees (House and Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy committees) starting one year after enactment, until the Secretary of Agriculture certifies that the screwworm is quarantined south of the Darién Gap in Panama. Reports must cover:
- Extent of federal interagency coordination.
- Progress in surveillance and prevention.
- Any U.S. infestations and federal response actions.
- Recommendations for improving federal response capabilities.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new mandate for formal interagency cooperation between USDA and DOI, which was not previously required by statute for screwworm management on federal lands. It builds on existing pest control authorities but specifies coordination focused on wildlife and non-livestock species, emphasizing early detection and business continuity—elements not explicitly detailed in prior laws like the Plant Protection Act.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: USDA and DOI must allocate resources for coordination, surveillance, and reporting, potentially increasing administrative workloads but improving efficiency in pest management across federal lands. State agencies may see enhanced collaboration, reducing response times during outbreaks.
- Citizens and Economy: Protects livestock industries, ranchers, and consumers by minimizing screwworm spread, which could otherwise disrupt food production and cause economic losses (e.g., from animal deaths or trade restrictions). Wildlife enthusiasts and rural communities near federal lands benefit from preserved ecosystems.
- International Relations: Supports broader eradication efforts by referencing quarantine in Panama, potentially strengthening U.S. partnerships with Central American countries through shared pest control strategies, though it does not directly fund international actions.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: USDA (e.g., Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) and DOI bureaus managing covered lands, responsible for implementation and reporting.
- State Governments: Wildlife and livestock health officers, who will coordinate on responses and notifications.
- Industry and Agriculture: Livestock producers, ranchers, and food supply chain businesses, protected from economic threats.
- Environmental and Wildlife Groups: Organizations focused on conservation, as the bill targets wildlife protection on federal lands.
- International Partners: Countries in the Americas involved in screwworm eradication programs, indirectly benefiting from U.S. containment efforts.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces existing federal authority over invasive species under laws like the Federal Land Policy and Management Act but adds enforceable timelines for interagency action and congressional oversight via reports, potentially enabling future funding or adjustments without new legislation.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's commerce clause powers to regulate interstate threats to agriculture and trade; no apparent conflicts with states' rights, as it encourages voluntary coordination.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (by representatives from Texas, North Carolina, Wyoming, and Florida) signals broad support for agricultural security. It highlights vulnerabilities in U.S. biosecurity, possibly prompting similar bills for other pests, but raises questions about long-term funding for ongoing reporting and eradication.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (8)
Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15], Rep. Hunt, Wesley [R-TX-38], Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2], Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
- 2026-02-10: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-02-10: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-02-10: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-10: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Safeguarding America’s Food Economy and Controlling Agricultural Threats to Livestock and Enterprises Act — issued 2026-02-10 — PDF (4 pages)