U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, pressed Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on the New World screwworm that has now been detected in Lea County, New Mexico. At a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, Sen. Luján questioned Secretary Rollins on the impacts of staffing cuts on the response to the spread, the federal government’s response, and USDA’s commitment to prioritizing impacted states.
A full video of the exchange is available here.
Senator Luján’s Legislative Work on Combatting the New World Screwworm:
In May of 2025, prior to the current outbreak reaching the United States, Senator Luján introduced the bipartisan Strengthening Tactics to Obstruct the Population of Screwworms (STOP Screwworms) Act, legislation to combat the spread of the New World screwworm. The legislation directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to begin construction on a new sterile fly production facility to combat the growing New World screwworm (NWS) spread.
Following the introduction of Senator Luján’s STOP Screwworms Act in May 2025, the legislation brought attention to the outbreak and USDA completed the construction of a U.S.-based sterile fly dispersal facility in Edinburg, Texas to combat the spread. As a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, addressing the New World screwworm spread is a priority for Senator Luján and he will continue to work to stop the spread of the dangerous pest.
New Mexico Resources to Address the New World Screwworm:
For information on identifying infestations, reporting suspected cases, and connecting with experts, visit:
Senator Luján Statement on the New World Screwworm:
“Thank you to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, our state health, livestock, and wildlife agencies, NMSU Cooperative Extension Service, and USDA APHIS for working around the clock to provide resources to fight the spread of the New World screwworm in New Mexico.
“The New World screwworm outbreak poses a serious threat to New Mexico’s cattle and livestock industry, and we must act decisively to stop the spread of this dangerous pest. Protecting livestock across the state requires investing in proven methods—like the sterile fly technique—to prevent the further spread in the United States. That’s why I led the STOP Screwworms Act back in May of last year to address this growing threat and will continue to fight to ensure we contain the spread of the New World screwworm.” – Senator Luján, a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry