HR9377Referred to Committee

Protecting America’s Herds Act

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Introduced
In Committee
3
Passed One Chamber
4
Passed Both
5
Signed into Law
119th
Congress
2026-06-18
Introduced
18
Cosponsors
HR
ⓘ
Type

Sponsor

Gabe Vasquez
Gabe Vasquez
Democrat · NM · Representative
Votes with party: 91.9% (645 recorded votes)
Top industries funding sponsor:
  • Progressive Groups$232k
  • Climate & Environment$12k

Full profile: /officials/V000136

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

Cosponsors (18)

Members who have signed on to support this bill since introduction. Source: Congress.gov.

Latest Action

The most recent step in the bill's legislative path. Committee Activity below shows referrals and reports; the full action-by-action history including floor proceedings lives at Congress.gov →

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

2026-06-18

Source: Congress.gov

Committee Activity

Currently in

Plain-English Summary

The federal government would create a grant program to help states and organizations prepare for and respond to New World screwworm infestations, which are parasitic pests that can devastate livestock and wildlife populations. Farmers, ranchers, veterinarians, and agricultural agencies would be eligible to receive funding for prevention efforts, emergency response, and research to control these harmful insects. The program aims to protect the nation's livestock industry and prevent economic losses from screwworm outbreaks.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

Subjects

Agriculture and Food

Full Bill Text

Verbatim text published on Congress.gov via GovInfo. Use Cmd+F / Ctrl+F to search within this excerpt.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9377 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9377 To establish a grant program for preparing and responding to New World screwworm outbreaks, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ 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. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 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. <all>
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