Tony Gonzales

10/23/2025 | Press release | Archived content

Rep. Tony Gonzales Hosts Collaborative Meeting with USDA on Screwworm Prevention Efforts

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - Today, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) hosted a collaborative meeting between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the New World Screwworm Working Group, founded by Congressman Gonzales, which is comprised of federal and state lawmakers, various agricultural, livestock, and wild game associations, scientists, veterinary experts, and Texas farmers and ranchers. During the meeting, the USDA shared updates relating to the construction of a domestic facility in South Texas focused on sterile fly production, a critical element in eliminating screwworms, and discussed the agency's New World Screwworm Response Playbook to respond to a domestic screwworm outbreak.
A key pillar of the USDA's screwworm response playbook is effectively managing coordination between federal, state, and local industry partners to monitor and manage screwworm outbreaks in livestock and wildlife. Partners within the New World Screwworm Working Group are committed to working with the USDA on these efforts.
"Containing the screwworm is a national emergency that must be addressed with the highest sense of urgency. The New World Screwworm Working Group is all in when it comes to preventing the spread of this parasite, which has the potential to severely impact our livestock and wildlife industries in Texas and beyond. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has been a fantastic partner, and I appreciate the hardworking staff at the USDA for taking the time to meet with the New World Screwworm Working Group to collaborate on screwworm eradication and prevention efforts this afternoon," said Congressman Tony Gonzales.
The New World Screwworm Working Group has developed several recommendations to combat the spread of the screwworm, with cases detected as close as 70 miles away from U.S. soil. These initiatives include support for the Cross-Border Threat Screening and Supply Chain Defense Center of Excellence at Texas A&M University, which could help expand screwworm research and response efforts, and the procurement of small, sterile fly units that would provide mobile support for farmers and ranchers to stop the spread of the screwworm.
Background on Congressman Gonzales' Results in Addressing the NWS Threat:
  • In September, Congressman Gonzales launched the New World Screwworm (NWS) Working Group, consisting of federal and state lawmakers, various agricultural, livestock, and wild game associations, scientists, veterinary experts, and Texas farmers and ranchers.
  • 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)
    • 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)
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