[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 26 (Thursday, February 5, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S502-S503]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          New World Screwworm

  Mr. CORNYN. I would like to talk about a topic that may seem 
irrelevant to the average person at first glance, but it actually 
affects all of us a great deal more than we might imagine. A tiny but 
vicious parasite known as the New World screwworm is infecting cattle 
across Mexico, and it is getting closer and closer to the United States 
by the minute. Of course, many know that Texas ranks first in the 
Nation for cattle production. We proudly represent nearly 15 percent of 
total cattle production in the United States, generating more than $11 
billion in cash receipts, so the Texas cattle industry is obviously 
very concerned about the spread of the New World screwworm.
  This parasite lays its eggs in the wounds of warmblooded animals, 
particularly livestock. The larvae burrows into the openings creating 
infections that, left untreated, can cause animals to die within 1 
week. We do not have vaccinations, unfortunately, to prevent screwworm 
infections. So outbreaks in cattle herds require labor-intensive daily 
inspections of livestock to make sure they have not been infested.
  Now, some may be wondering: That sounds pretty horrific, but what 
does it have to do with me? Well, the truth is, this little pest, this 
vicious pest, touches all of our lives one way or the other. If the New 
World screwworm spreads to Texas infecting cattle and killing 
livestock, the already high price of beef will continue to increase. 
And, of course, as we are all focused on kitchen table issues and 
affordability, that is the last thing we need. That means that anyone 
who enjoys a steak or a hamburger will be staring at higher prices in 
their local restaurant or at the drive-through at their favorite fast-
food chain or at the grocery store. Anyone planning a nice Valentine's 
Day dinner in a few weeks should listen up and perhaps budget 
accordingly.
  Unfortunately, the New World screwworm is quickly spreading. Since 
2023, there have been outbreaks of this

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deadly insect in Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, El 
Salvador, and Costa Rica. Costa Rica declared the New World screwworm a 
national emergency in 2024. That same year, the fly made its way to 
Mexico which, of course, given our proximity to Mexico, has raised 
concerns among Texas cattle ranchers that it may soon make its way 
across the border and lead to an outbreak in our State and not stop 
there.
  At the end of last year, a case of New World screwworm was reported 
less than 400 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border. Fortunately, 
President Trump and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke 
Rollins have made defeating the New World screwworm a priority. Our 
Federal Government's response to this threat spans multiple avenues, 
including emergency response plans, sterile fly production and 
dispersal levels, as well as targeted initiatives in surveillance and 
research. I have been working closely with the USDA and other 
stakeholders to promote these efforts, and I have introduced 
legislation to authorize funding to deal with these measures.

  First of all, the USDA is partnering with State and local governments 
to ensure that the United States is prepared for a potential outbreak. 
This means working across Federal, State, local, Tribal, and 
territorial agencies to update emergency response plans, ensuring that 
responders are trained and ready.
  They are also supporting hands-on training and simulations at all 
levels of government to practice rapid, coordinated responses in the 
event of an outbreak. They are ensuring that we have effective 
treatments available for both animals and humans so that veterinarians 
and healthcare professionals can act quickly, if necessary. This 
parasite doesn't just affect cattle. It affects human beings, too, and 
it is a horrific, horrific thing.
  Secondly, USDA is investing significantly in the renovation and 
construction of new sterile fly facilities in both the United States 
and Mexico to stop the screwworm. We know that the use of sterile flies 
was effective during the last outbreak of the New World screwworm in 
North America, which happened in the 1960s.
  The sterile male fly mates with female flies who mate only once 
during their lifetime, so by releasing large numbers of sterile male 
flies, the population can be stopped in its tracks. This approach 
worked to eradicate these deadly infestations in the '60s, and I am 
hopeful it will work again. I am confident it will, once implemented, 
now in the 2020s.
  The USDA is investing $21 million to help renovate and convert an 
existing fruit fly facility in Metapa, Mexico. Once complete, this 
facility is expected to produce an additional 60 to 100 million sterile 
flies per week. With continued support from technical experts at USDA, 
Mexico expects production to begin as early as the summer of 2026.
  Last November, the USDA opened a sterile fly dispersal facility in 
Tampico, Mexico. This facility allows USDA to disperse sterile flies 
aerially across northeastern Mexico, including Nuevo Leon.
  In addition to revamping and developing facilities in Mexico, the 
USDA is also working to ensure that we have a sterile fly facility here 
in the United States. Planning is currently underway with the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers to construct a domestic sterile fly production 
facility in south Texas. This facility has a projected capacity of 300 
million sterile flies per week. It will be the only U.S.-based sterile 
fly production facility and will work in tandem with facilities in 
Panama and Mexico to help eradicate this pest and protect American 
agriculture.
  But Secretary Rollins' efforts haven't stopped there. USDA is also 
investing in surveillance capabilities to try to monitor the spread, as 
well as research to identify new solutions. The USDA has deployed over 
100 traps and lures across high-risk areas in the border States and is 
leveraging thousands of insect traps all along the southern border. 
Tens of thousands of flies from traps in all locations have been 
submitted to our National Veterinary Services Laboratories for 
identification, thankfully with zero New World screwworm detections so 
far.
  In Texas, the USDA examines all wildlife for signs of an infection. 
To date, more than 6,600 wild animals across 28 species have been 
examined--here again, thankfully, with no evidence of New World 
screwworm found.
  Finally, the USDA has announced a New World Screwworm Grand 
Challenge, which will prevent the pest's northward spread and safeguard 
America's food supply by investing in projects that enhance sterile fly 
production, develop new traps and lures, and develop increased 
understanding of potential treatments that could be stockpiled and used 
here in the United States, if necessary.
  So while the New World screwworm poses a direct threat to cattle 
ranchers, for all of us who enjoy a good hamburger or steak, I think 
this should be encouraging news. So the fly has yet to land here in the 
United States, but it is close, and we are taking active steps to 
prevent its continued northward spread.
  I am confident that under Secretary Rollins' and President Trump's 
leadership, we will be prepared to meet this nasty parasite if it 
arrives in the United States. Texas cattle ranchers and beef lovers 
alike can rest assured knowing that Secretary Rollins and President 
Trump and the U.S. Congress are on the job.
  I yield the floor.