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H.R. 9377House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Protecting America’s Herds Act

Sponsored by Gabe VasquezRep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM)
Introduced June 18, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated June 25, 2026 at 8:52 AM UTC

The Protecting America's Herds Act creates a federal grant program to help state and tribal agricultural extension services prepare for and respond to outbreaks of the New World screwworm, a parasite that can devastate livestock. The program provides competitive funding for training, inspections, producer education, and technical assistance, with priority given to areas at higher risk of infestation.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary of Agriculture must set up a competitive grant program for cooperative extension services to address New World screwworm threats.
  • Grants can be used for training staff, supporting livestock inspections, educating producers, and providing direct technical help on prevention, monitoring, treatment, and reporting.
  • Priority for funding goes to extension services in states or tribal communities that face a higher risk of screwworm introduction or spread.
  • The program must be coordinated with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, state animal health officials, veterinarians, tribal agricultural programs, and land‑grant colleges and universities.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Agriculture Committee

June 18, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 18, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Agriculture Committee

June 18, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued June 18, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9377

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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

A BILL

To establish a grant program for preparing and responding to New World screwworm outbreaks, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protecting America’s Herds Act.

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.