Rep. Gabe Vasquez Introduces Bipartisan Solution to Protect America’s Herds From New World Screwworm

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On June 18, 2026 - following confirmed cases of the New World screwworm (NWS) in Texas and New Mexico - U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) introduced the Protecting America's Herds Act, an innovative, bipartisan solution to combat the spread of the parasite, herd loss, and a jump in beef prices.

The bill - which has 13 cosponsors from both sides of the aisle, including Rep. Leger-Fernández - helps ranchers fight NWS by funding local experts who can train inspectors, inspect livestock, educate producers, and provide the hands-on support needed to catch outbreaks early and stop them from spreading.

The bill has been endorsed by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, New Mexico State University, the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, the Public Lands Council, and Rocky Mountain Farmers Union.

"For New Mexicans, the New World screwworm is not a distant problem. It's here, right in our backyard. That's why I'm raising the alarm in Congress and leading a bipartisan effort to make sure lawmakers understand this isn't just a New Mexico or Southwest issue - it's a national threat to our food supply, our ranchers, and American families - and we need to respond now," said Vasquez. "Our ranchers have already been hit by years of drought, rising input costs, and record-low cattle herds. The last thing we need is a flesh-eating parasite threatening their herds and driving up beef prices for American families. That's why I'm leading this bill and calling on USDA to ramp up staffing, speed the completion of the sterile fly production facility, and give producers the resources they need to detect and stop this outbreak before it gets worse."

The NWS was eradicated from the U.S. in 1966, meaning many producers today have never encountered the pest. This bill provides the essential training and support they need to prevent the outbreak from spiraling into a crisis through early detection and rapid response efforts.

Specifically, the bill would equip the Cooperative Extension System to:

• Train personnel and producers on New World screwworm identification, treatment, management, prevention, and reporting through workshops, direct technical assistance, field demonstrations, and outreach campaigns
• Allow Extension agents to act as livestock inspectors and deputize them to train and hire additional livestock inspectors
• Enhance coordination with USDA APHIS, veterinarians, state animal health officials, and Tribal agricultural programs
• Prioritize funding for states and Tribal communities at elevated risk of NWS introduction or spread

Vasquez unveiled his bill at a briefing and press conference he and Representative Teresa Leger Fernández convened in Albuquerque today with agriculture and livestock experts from across New Mexico, as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition to introducing this new bipartisan solution, Vasquez called on the USDA to expedite the completion of the sterile fly production facility in Texas - a vital project that he requested a status update on from Secretary Rollins back in mid-April ahead of the peak summer outbreak season.

"When extreme weather and disease shrink our U.S. cattle herds, ranchers struggle and American consumers feel the pain at the grocery store with rising beef prices," said Vasquez back in April. "Instead of undermining U.S. ranchers by importing foreign beef from Argentina, the USDA should be focused on doing everything it can to improve, strengthen, and protect our domestic cattle herds - including taking steps to prevent outbreaks of the New World Screwworm. It is critical that the Administration continue to work with Congress and industry to ensure that everyone is on the same page to effectively mitigate any widespread outbreak of NWS in the U.S. before it devastates American ranchers."

During the briefing, livestock officials also noted they do not expect the NWS outbreak to materially impact beef prices and flagged for consumers that American beef products remain safe for consumption.

State and federal experts who attended today's briefing and shared updates, insights, and recommendations included:

• New Mexico Department of Agriculture
  • Les Owen, Deputy Secretary
• New Mexico Livestock Board
  • Belinda Garland, Executive Director
  • Samantha Holeck, State Veterinarian
• Dairy Producers of New Mexico
  • Beverly Idsinga, Executive Director
• New Mexico State University - Extension Office
  • Tom Dean, Department Head for Cooperative Extension Service
• New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
  • Stewart Liley, Chief of Wildlife Management
• New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association
  • Dr. Tom Paterson, President
• New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau
  • Larry Reagan, President
• U.S. Department of Agriculture - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
  • Dr. Sara Ahola, New World Screwworm National Incident Coordinator

Cosponsors of the Protecting America's Herds Act include Representatives Sharice Davids (KS-03), Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Shomari Figures (AL-02), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Josh Harder (CA-09), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Marc Veasey (TX-33), and Michael McCaul (TX-10).

"The first confirmed case of New World screwworm in New Mexico is a reminder that we cannot take our agricultural security for granted. Ranchers, producers, veterinarians, and agricultural experts have been warning about this threat for months and calling for stronger preparation before it reached our communities," said Leger-Fernández. "Unfortunately, the federal response did not match the urgency of the moment. Now that screwworm has arrived, we have a responsibility to step up and give our producers the tools they need to protect their herds. The Protecting America's Herds Act will help provide the training, technical assistance, and local support needed to identify outbreaks early, respond quickly, and limit the damage to livestock, rural economies, and the families who depend on them."

"Protecting our livestock means protecting rural jobs and our economy," said Rep. Veasey (TX-33). "The Protecting America's Herds Act gives producers the resources they need to stay ahead of threats before they become costly crises and invests in the safeguards needed to keep destructive pests from reaching our livestock."

"As the New World Screwworm has now been found in the United States, it's critical that we take an all-hands on deck approach to identify and address new cases. Even in small states like Maine, a screwworm outbreak can have an outsized impact, especially at a time when families are already dealing with rising costs in every facet of their lives," said Rep. Pingree (ME-01). "This commonsense legislation would give states the tools and people power they need to stop this outbreak in its tracks, while improving their ability to respond to future threats."

"These parasitic swarms kill livestock, drive up milk and beef prices, and can even infect humans - we have to stop this outbreak before it spreads even more," said Rep. Harder (CA-09). "This bill jumpstarts detection and prevention efforts by giving dairies and ranchers the support they need to keep their livestock healthy. Passing this bill ASAP should be a no-brainer."

"A strong agricultural economy depends on giving producers the resources they need to prepare for challenges before they become crises. The New World screwworm is a threat we cannot ignore," said Rep. Thompson (MS-02). "By strengthening Cooperative Extension Services, this legislation will help producers detect infestations early, protect their livestock, and improve our ability to respond before outbreaks become more widespread. Taking these steps now will help protect our agricultural economy, support rural communities, and strengthen our nation's food supply."

"Before it was eradicated half a century ago, New World Screwworm wreaked havoc on livestock and ruthlessly damaged agricultural economies across the southwest," said Rep. McCaul (TX-10). "Preventing a similar tragedy will require re-education, training, and additional resources to swiftly detect cases and stop new infections. I'm proud to support this important legislation to protect Texans' livestock and livelihoods from this brutal parasite."

Here's what endorsing organizations have to say about the bill:

"I strongly support this important legislation to enhance our state's preparedness and response to the New World screwworm. By investing in the training of Extension professionals, strengthening producer outreach, and equipping our local offices to serve as trusted resources, this bill ensures that New Mexicans have timely access to science-based information and assistance," said Jon Boren, the Associate Dean and Director at New Mexico State University's College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. "This proactive approach will help protect animal health, safeguard our agricultural economy, and strengthen the resilience of communities across New Mexico. We appreciate this commitment to prevention, education, and rapid response."

"Extension agents and their staff are among the most trusted agricultural professionals in many communities. They know our producers, understand local conditions, and can play a critical role in educating the public and helping detect New World screwworm in our livestock," said Tom Paterson, President of the New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association. "Congressman Vasquez is proposing a practical, common-sense approach that strengthens our frontline defenses against a devastating livestock pest. New Mexico Cattle Growers strongly supports this legislation and appreciates his leadership on this issue."

"Rocky Mountain Farmers Union believes that expanding access to technical assistance for producers is a critical investment in the long-term health and resilience of the U.S. livestock industry," said Chad Franke, President of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. "Enhanced support helps safeguard our nation's cattle herd, strengthen rural economies, and provide producers with tools to help address emerging challenges. This is especially urgent as threats such as New World Screwworm continue to grow and the U.S. cattle herd is at a 75-year low."

"Eradicating New World screwworm half a century ago required a full-court press, leveraging partnerships at the federal, state, and local levels. Eradicating the current outbreak in New Mexico and Texas will require the same level of investment. Mobilizing Cooperative Extension agents in the fight against this pest is a practical use of existing expertise and personnel on the ground," said the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. "We appreciate Congressman Vasquez's focus on this urgent issue facing New Mexico ranchers."

Rep. Vasquez has long been an ardent supporter of New Mexico's ranchers and cattle growers. Some of his recent work to support them includes:

• Last year, he sounded the alarm on NWS by calling on the USDA to take immediate steps to protect ranchers while balancing the interests of New Mexico's small businesses.
• He was also integral in securing the necessary funding to build a sterile fly production and dispersal facility through the STOP Screwworms Act, legislation that required the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a New World Screwworm fly rearing facility to combat the spread of Screwworms.
• On March 3, 2026, Rep. Vasquez secured unanimous, bipartisan support in the House Agriculture Committee for his Farm Bill amendment condemning the Administration's push to prioritize Argentinian beef imports at the expense of our American cattle ranchers. The amendment ultimately passed out of the House in the Farm Bill.
• In 2024, Vasquez adamantly opposed the Biden administration's push to import beef from Paraguay. No matter the political party, Rep. Vasquez is fully committed to fighting for American ranchers.

"Rep. Vasquez, you are a hero for eliminating red tape. We appreciate what you did with the Farm Bill provisions. We appreciate your vote and support of the Farm Bill to remove red tape," said Dr. Tom Paterson, President of the New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association, during today's briefing.

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