Tony Gonzales

09/30/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/30/2025 17:11

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales Convenes New World Screwworm Working Group in Texas with Local, State, and Federal Stakeholders

Today, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) hosted a New World Screwworm (NWS) Working Group consisting of federal and state lawmakers, various agricultural, livestock, wild game associations, scientists, veterinarian experts, and Texas farmers and ranchers. The NWS Working Group shared ideas and collaboration between multiple sectors and all levels of government on the containment of the NWS. This afternoon's roundtable and "kickoff" discussion harnessed the expert advice of local, state, and federal leaders on preventing the spread of this agricultural pest in the United States and overcoming the serious and potentially deadly consequences that it poses for cattle, livestock, wildlife, domestic pets, and, in some cases, humans.

"Containing the screwworm is a national emergency that must be addressed with the highest sense of urgency. Everything from food supply to our national security is at risk, and with a new infestation detected just 70 miles away from the Texas-Mexico border last week, the stakes are higher than ever," said Congressman Tony Gonzales. "We truly need an all-hands-on-deck response to keep this deadly parasite away from the United States. Today's launching of the New World Screwworm Working Group is a meaningful step forward in bringing expert leaders together to implement effective solutions and Texans getting things done-from ranchers to private industry to lawmakers at all levels of government."

Congressman Gonzales hosted Texas State Representative Don McLaughlin (HD-80), Office of Texas Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows, Office of Texas State House Chairman of the Agriculture and Livestock Committee Representative Ryan Guillen (HD-31), and Kinney County Judge John Paul Schuster. Representatives from the Texas Farm Bureau, Texas A&M University, Texas Public Policy Foundation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Wildlife Association, Texas Animal Health Commission, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers Association, and the Exotic Game Association were also in attendance.
Background on Congressman Gonzales' Results in Addressing the NWS Threat:
  • Congressman Gonzales requested more information from the FDA on actions taken to authorize treatments and issue guidance for animal drugs to treat or prevent an NWS outbreak. (September 2025)
    • Today, the FDA announced the conditional approval of an injectable drug, Dectomax-CA1, to prevent and treat NWS infestations. Dectomax-CA1 is conditionally approved for use only in cattle.
  • Congressman Gonzales requested that the USDA consider economic aid and other appropriate options for the beef, livestock, and wild game industries. (September 2025)
  • Congressman Gonzales joined USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Texas Governor Greg Abbott in Austin to announce the USDA's $750 million commitment to fund and build a domestic sterile fly production facility to enhance NWS containment and eradication efforts. (August 2025)
  • Congressman Gonzales penned a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., urging coordination between HHS, the USDA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and pharmaceutical manufacturers to fast-track approvals and labeling of anti-parasitic treatments for livestock.
    • In August, HHS granted authorization to lessen restrictions on certain drugs that can help treat and prevent a screwworm infestation.
  • Congressman Gonzales joined USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins in South Texas, announcing a sweeping five-pronged plan to enhance USDA's ability to detect, control, and eliminate the NWS. (June 2025)
  • Congressman Gonzales introduced the bipartisan Strengthening Tactics to Obstruct the Population of Screwworms (STOP Screwworms) Act, alongside Texas Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, to support funding for a sterile fly production facility in the United States. (May 2025)
    • The bill was endorsed by the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Livestock Marketing Association, American Livestock Markets and Dealers Association, Texas Farm Bureau, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, and Livestock Marketing Association of Texas
  • Through his seat on the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Gonzales secured a provision that doubled the initial funding for screwworm eradication efforts in the agriculture budget from $5.5 million to $10 million.
  • Congressman Gonzales led a bipartisan initiative with 43 of his colleagues, including several U.S. Representatives seated on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, urging the USDA to expand eradication and containment efforts relating to the NWS. (March 2025)

###

Tony Gonzales published this content on September 30, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 30, 2025 at 23:12 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]