STOP Screwworms Act

The STOP Screwworms Act would require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish one or more modular New World screwworm fly rearing facilities in areas identified as at risk for screwworm infestation. The facilities would rear sterile New World screwworm flies and also disperse them to at-risk areas to help prevent outbreaks. Eligible areas are U.S. state areas deemed at risk due to migratory patterns of confirmed detections and suitability for releasing sterile flies. The bill would require annual reporting on the threat to agriculture from screwworms and the effectiveness of the control efforts, with results publicly posted. It authorizes $300 million in funding to carry out these provisions, available until expended. The measure amends the Animal Health Protection Act to add a new section creating this program, and it carries the short title the STOP Screwworms Act. In short, the bill aims to bolster the United States’ ability to prevent New World screwworm outbreaks by building rearing and release capacity for sterile flies and tracking progress publicly and to Congress.