AUSTIN – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement in response to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins and Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s announcement of nearly $1 billion in federal investment, including $750 million for a new sterile fly production facility, to combat the New World screwworm (NWS):

“Texas has long led the nation’s cattle industry, and it’s imperative for state and federal leaders to use every tool at our disposal to protect our food supply from the destructive New World screwworm,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Today’s announcement of funding I supported for the USDA to combat this pest is a huge step forward, and I thank Secretary Rollins and Governor Abbott for their work and will continue to work alongside them to ensure Texas has the resources it needs to halt the spread.”

Background:

Senator Cornyn has led the fight in Washington to combat the growing NWS threat to protect the Texas agriculture industry and cattle production nationwide, including:

• Introducing legislation to authorize funds for and direct the USDA to begin construction on a new sterile fly production facility;
• Calling attention on the Senate floor to the growing NWS threat and passed an amendment as a part of the Senate appropriations package to bolster the federal government’s response;
• And working with Secretary Rollins and stakeholders to propose solutions to halt the growth of this destructive parasite.