Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program Enhancement Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 319
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2025-03-05T05:08:25Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to enhance the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program by requiring a formal review of its operations, effectiveness, and impacts. This review will inform recommendations to improve the program, particularly by reducing compliance burdens on cattle producers while maintaining efforts to control cattle fever ticks—a parasitic threat to livestock.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- "Covered institution" refers to land-grant colleges or universities (public institutions focused on agriculture, science, and engineering, as defined in federal law) and non-land-grant colleges of agriculture (eligible private or other institutions specializing in agriculture).
- "Program" means the ongoing Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program, managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in partnership with the Texas Animal Health Commission.
- "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture.
- Program Review:
- Within 1 year of the bill's enactment, the Secretary must offer to contract with a covered institution to conduct an independent review.
- The review must evaluate:
- The program's success in preventing and reducing the spread of cattle fever ticks.
- Benefits and compliance burdens (e.g., time, costs, or restrictions) for cattle producers.
- Treatment protocols (methods for treating infected animals or areas).
- Allocation of federal and state funds for the most recent fiscal year, including breakdowns for related research projects.
- Report to Congress:
- Within 1 year after signing the contract, the Secretary must submit a report to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the House Committee on Agriculture.
- The report includes the review's findings and recommendations for program improvements, with a focus on easing burdens on cattle producers.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a one-time mandate for an external review and congressional report, which does not exist in current law for this program. It builds on the established Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program (active since the early 1900s) by adding an evaluation mechanism to assess and potentially refine its structure, funding, and protocols without altering the program's core operations.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and APHIS will need to allocate resources for contracting and reporting, potentially leading to more efficient use of funds and streamlined operations. The Texas Animal Health Commission may see indirect benefits through program enhancements.
- Citizens: Cattle producers, especially in Texas and border regions, could experience reduced compliance burdens (e.g., simpler treatments or fewer inspections), lowering costs and improving livestock health. Broader agricultural communities may benefit from better tick control, protecting the beef industry from economic losses due to disease.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though improved tick eradication could strengthen U.S. livestock export standards, as cattle fever ticks are a concern in trade with Mexico and other regions.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Cattle Producers: Primary beneficiaries or those facing compliance burdens, as the review targets ways to minimize their challenges.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (Secretary and APHIS): Responsible for implementing the review and applying recommendations.
- Covered Institutions: Land-grant and non-land-grant agriculture colleges, which may conduct the review and gain funding or research opportunities.
- Texas Animal Health Commission: Key partner in the program, potentially influencing state-level operations.
- Congressional Committees: Senate and House Agriculture Committees, which receive the report to guide future oversight or funding decisions.
- Livestock Industry: Broader stakeholders in beef production, research, and tick control efforts.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill relies on existing USDA authority under agricultural health laws (e.g., the Federal Plant Pest Act and Animal Health Protection Act) to expand program evaluation without creating new regulatory powers. It emphasizes collaboration with academic institutions, promoting evidence-based policy without mandating specific changes.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; it involves standard congressional direction of executive agencies (USDA) for administrative review, aligning with separation of powers.
- Political: As a bipartisan bill (introduced by Senators Cornyn (R-TX) and Lujan (D-NM)), it highlights regional agricultural priorities in Texas and the Southwest. It could foster support for USDA funding in appropriations debates and encourage state-federal partnerships, but implementation depends on committee approval and may face scrutiny over costs if the review identifies funding gaps.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2025-01-29: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program Enhancement Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-29 — PDF (4 pages)