Introduced in House — H.R. 7466

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7466

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 10, 2026

Mr. Jackson of Texas (for himself, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Ms. Hageman, and Mr. Soto) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to enter into a memorandum of understanding or other interagency agreement, to carry out, and coordinate on, activities to prevent, control, and eradicate New World screwworm in wildlife and non-livestock species of animals on certain Federal lands, and for other purposes.

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Safeguarding America’s Food Economy and Controlling Agricultural Threats to Livestock and Enterprises Act or the SAFE CATTLE Act.

Sec. 2. Interagency cooperation on New World screwworm eradication and monitoring activities

(a) In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior shall enter into a memorandum of understanding or other interagency agreement, to carry out, and coordinate on, activities to prevent, control, and eradicate New World screwworm in wildlife and non-livestock species of animals on covered lands. Such activities shall include—

(1)

coordinating joint surveillance and monitoring protocols for early detection of New World screwworm in wildlife and non-livestock species of animals on covered lands;

(2)

for purposes of controlling and containing New World screwworm in all species of animals on covered lands in the event of an outbreak, coordinating with (as appropriate) State wildlife and livestock health officers with respect to response procedures, the distribution of information, and notification procedures;

(3)

coordinating New World screwworm eradication protocols to protect wildlife and non-livestock species of animals on covered lands, stabilize and reduce the threat to domestic animal agriculture, and safeguard the domestic food supply and the economy; and

(4)

developing science-based and risk-based approaches and systems to facilitate continuity of business for non-infected animals of all species and non-contaminated areas on covered lands.

(b) Report

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the date on which the Secretary of Agriculture certifies to the Congress that the New World screwworm has been quarantined south of the Darien Gap in Panama, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior shall jointly submit to the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report detailing the following:

(1)

the extent of interagency coordination between each Federal agency involved in the prevention, control, and eradication of New World screwworm on covered lands;

(2)

any progress made in the surveillance and prevention of New World screwworm outbreaks;

(3)

any incidents of infestation of New World screwworm in the United States and Federal collaborative activities undertaken to control the spread of such infestation; and

(4)

any recommendations for legislative or administrative action to improve the Federal response capacity to the threat of New World screwworm.

(c) Covered lands defined

In this Act, the term covered lands means lands managed by the National Park Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, or the Forest Service.