June 18, 2026
Mr. Vasquez (for himself, Ms. Davids of Kansas, Mr. Figures, Ms. Salinas, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Harder of California, Ms. Leger Fernandez, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Ms. Stansbury, Mr. Veasey, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Panetta, and Mr. Cuellar) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
To establish a grant program for preparing and responding to New World screwworm outbreaks, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Protecting America’s Herds Act
.
Sec. 2. Grants for preparing and responding to New World screwworm
(a) Establishment
The Secretary of Agriculture (in this section referred to as the Secretary
) shall establish a program to award grants, on a competitive basis, to cooperative extension services to prepare and respond to New World screwworm outbreaks.
(b) Applications
To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a cooperative extension service shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(c) Use of funds
A grant awarded under this section may be used to—
(1)
train personnel of the cooperative extension service on New World screwworm identification, treatment, management, prevention, and reporting;
(2)
support livestock inspections, including the training of inspectors, for New World screwworm;
(3)
support producer education regarding New World screwworm through workshops, field demonstrations, outreach campaigns, and educational materials; and
(4)
support the provision of direct technical assistance by personnel of the cooperative extension service to livestock producers regarding prevention, monitoring, treatment, biosecurity practices, and reporting of suspected infestations of New World screwworm.
(d) Priority
In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall give priority to cooperative extension services in States or Tribal communities at elevated risk of New World screwworm introduction or spread.
(e) Coordination
In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall coordinate with cooperative extension services, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, State animal health officials, veterinarians, Tribal agricultural programs, and land-grant colleges and universities conducting veterinary or agricultural research.
(f) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Cooperative extension service
The term cooperative extension service has the meaning given such term in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).
(2) Land-grant colleges and universities
The term land-grant colleges and universities
has the meaning given such term in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).
(3) State
The term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, and the territories of the United States.
(g) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.