SAFE CATTLE Act aims to protect U.S. livestock from screwworm

Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) on Feb. 10 introduced the Safeguarding America’s Food Economy and Controlling Agricultural Threats to Livestock and Enterprises Act (SAFE CATTLE Act).

This bill will establish a memorandum of understanding or other interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior to carry out, and coordinate on, activities to prevent, control and eradicate New World screwworm in wildlife and non-livestock animal species on federal lands, his news release said.

Reps. Don Davis (D-N.C.), Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) and Darren Soto (D-Fla.) are cosponsoring this bill in the House.

“The SAFE CATTLE Act is a critical step in fortifying the federal government’s response against the devastating threat of the New World screwworm, which puts over $11 billion in economic value from Texas’ livestock and wildlife industries at immediate risk,” said Jackson. “By ensuring the USDA and DOI are operating in lockstep, we are building on the proactive investments of the Trump administration to combat this parasite and prevent its spread before it destroys our rural communities.”

The MOU would direct USDA and DOI to coordinate on: joint surveillance and monitoring for early detection; eradication protocols to protect wildlife and non-livestock species on federal lands in order to stabilize and reduce the threat to U.S. animal agriculture, the food supply and the economy, and developing science- and risk-based approaches and systems to support business continuity for all non-infected animals and non-contaminated federal areas, according to the bill’s text.