H.R. 7466: Safeguarding America’s Food Economy and Controlling Agricultural Threats to Livestock and Enterprises Act

This bill, titled the Safeguarding America's Food Economy and Controlling Agricultural Threats to Livestock and Enterprises Act, focuses on addressing the threat posed by the New World screwworm, a harmful pest that affects livestock and wildlife. Here’s a breakdown of the key components of the bill:

Interagency Cooperation

The bill mandates the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to work together by creating a memorandum or agreement. This collaboration aims to:

• Develop Surveillance Protocols: Establish monitoring systems for the early detection of New World screwworm infestations in wildlife and non-livestock animals on certain federal lands.
• Coordinated Response Efforts: Ensure coordinated actions with state wildlife and livestock health officers for effective response during an outbreak. This includes sharing information and notifying appropriate parties.
• Eradication Protocols: Formulate strategies to eradicate New World screwworm infestations to protect wildlife and reduce risks to domestic agricultural sectors.
• Business Continuity Approaches: Develop science-based methods to maintain business operations for non-infected animals and unaffected areas on the designated federal lands.

Reporting Requirements

The bill also requires the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to provide annual reports to various congressional committees. These reports must include:

• The level of cooperation between federal agencies regarding New World screwworm control.
• Progress made in monitoring and preventing new infestations.
• Any reported cases of New World screwworm in the U.S. and collaborative efforts to manage these cases.
• Recommendations for improving federal actions against New World screwworm threats.

Definition of Covered Lands

The bill specifies that the activities it governs will take place on "covered lands," which are defined as areas managed by:

• National Park Service
• United States Fish and Wildlife Service
• Bureau of Land Management
• Bureau of Reclamation
• Forest Service

Overall, the proposed legislation seeks to bolster efforts to control and eradicate the New World screwworm on specific federal lands, with a focus on protecting wildlife, domestic animals, and the agricultural economy.

Relevant Companies

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