Rep. Trent Kelly Questions Ag. Sec. on Combating Devastating Screwworm Threat to Livestock

Combating the Screwworm Threat

• ⚠️ Screwworm poses a significant threat to livestock, rapidly moving towards the U.S. border.
• 🚢 To combat this, the U.S. shut down ports of entry with Mexico, despite pushback from Mexican officials.
• ⏳ The screwworm infestation has advanced significantly, moving from within 100 miles to 700 miles of the border in a matter of weeks.
• 📈 In the 1950s, a screwworm outbreak took 30 years for the livestock community to recover.
• 📢 A major announcement regarding resources and efforts to push back the screwworm is expected next week.

Agricultural Economic Assistance

• 💰 Appreciation is expressed for the $10 billion allocated last year to support farmers and prevent them from going under.
• ⚡ The rapid response in distributing these funds and implementing policies for farmers and lenders is acknowledged.
• 💸 Plans are in place to quickly distribute an additional $21 billion in economic assistance through emergency disaster relief.
• 🚀 The first $1 billion has already been moved into the livestock program, with block grants for several states (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia) to follow in the next eight weeks.

H2A and H2B Worker Program Challenges

• 🧑‍🌾 The H2A and H2B worker programs are critical for farms, but the current process is too complicated and slow.
• ⏰ Farmers receive notice about workers too late to effectively use them for planting or harvesting.
• 🗣️ There is a need to expedite the process for legal workers to arrive quicker and stay longer.
• 💲 The high cost of H2A workers, averaging $23 an hour in Texas compared to $2 an hour across the border, is a significant concern.

Regulatory Concerns and SNAP Program Integrity

• 🚫 A call to stop burdensome regulations from the previous administration, such as the one classifying a pickup truck driver as a truck driver with a different wage.
• ✅ Efforts to address fraud and abuse in SNAP programs are appreciated, focusing on removing ineligible recipients rather than cutting benefits for those who qualify.
• 🤝 The administration is aware of the challenges and is working on solutions, emphasizing the need for continued leadership from Congress.