Political Quotes

“it won't surprise anybody that the State of Texas has long been the leading State in the cattle industry, supplying the Nation with steaks, hamburgers, and other protein products that grace many of our dinner tables every night. Texas ranks first in the Nation in cattle production, coming in at 12 million head a year, representing nearly 15 percent of the total production in the United States and generating more than $1 billion in revenue. Unfortunately, this essential food supply and corresponding food price are under threat from the outbreak of a particularly pernicious parasite called the New World screwworm. The New World screwworm lays its eggs in the wombs of warmblooded animals, particularly livestock. The larvae then burrow into the opening, creating infections that, left untreated, can cause animals to die within a week. With no known vaccinations to prevent infections, outbreaks in cattle herds require labor-intensive daily inspections of livestock to make sure they have not been infested. Since 2023, there have been outbreaks of this deadly insect in Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and Costa Rica, a country that ended up declaring the New World screwworm a national emergency in 2024. Last November, the fly made its way back to Mexico. This, of course, has raised concerns among Texas cattle ranchers that it may soon come across the border and lead to an outbreak in our State.”