Sponsors (52)
The bill directs federal funds and infrastructure to prevent New World screwworm outbreaks—potentially protecting farmers and livestock—while posing risks of substantial taxpayer cost, local health/environment concerns, and a chance the program may not deliver effective protection.
Farmers and agricultural workers in at‑risk and rural areas gain on‑the‑ground pest‑control capacity because USDA is authorized and funded to build facilities and carry out sterile New World screwworm rearing and dispersal operations to prevent infestations and reduce livestock losses.
State and local governments, farmers, and the public get improved information and planning tools because USDA must publish annual reports analyzing pest threats and program effectiveness, increasing transparency and informing response planning.
If the facilities or insect dispersal operations prove ineffective, farmers may still experience infestations while taxpayers absorb significant costs, meaning the program could fail to deliver promised agricultural protection.
Taxpayers will fund an authorization of up to $300 million for the program, increasing federal spending and potentially diverting resources from other priorities.
Nearby rural communities and residents could face environmental or public‑health concerns from rapid construction and mass release of sterilized insects, generating local opposition and possible health/safety risks.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs USDA to build modular facilities to rear and disperse sterile New World screwworm flies, requires annual reporting, and authorizes $300M in funding.
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to begin building one or more modular facilities to rear sterile New World screwworm flies and support their dispersal to areas at risk from screwworm detections. The Department must start construction within 180 days of enactment, report to congressional agriculture committees within one year and annually thereafter, publish reports online, and is authorized $300 million in funding available until expended.
Introduced May 14, 2025 by Tony Gonzales · Last progress May 14, 2025