Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – Representative Canales strongly supports Governor Abbott’s signature of House Concurrent Resolution 13, a critical resolution passed during the Special Session, calling for urgent federal action to prevent the spread of the New World Screwworm into Texas. Rep. Canales proudly voted in favor of HCR 13 and has joined the rest of the Rio Grande Valley delegation in urging the federal government to take swift steps to combat the growing threat to livestock, livelihoods, and the RGV economy.
The New World Screwworm is a parasitic fly that infests livestock, wildlife, pets, and even humans. It poses a serious risk to Texas agriculture and public health. Infestations occur when the fly lays eggs in open wounds. Untreated infections can kill an animal within two weeks. In May 2025, the federal government halted cattle imports from Mexico after outbreaks were detected just 700 miles south of the border. By July, infestations had been confirmed only 370 miles away and just a couple of hours ago the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed a new case of New World screwworm in Sabinas Hidalgo, located in the state of Nuevo León, less than 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.
Rep. Canales is proud that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has selected Moore Air Force Base in Edinburg, which is holy in Representative Canales House District 40as its base of operations to combat the New World Screwworm threat. The base will house a sterile screwworm production facility, which will produce 300 million sterile flies per week, used to eradicate the New World Screwworm resurgence.
Statement form Representative Terry Canales
“The infrastructure and current government operations at Moore Airforce Base are essential to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s mission. The new world screwworm poses an incredible threat to livestock, livelihoods, and the RGV Economy. The fact that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has selected Moore Airforce base in the heart of my legislative district to combat the new world screwworm is a source of great pride, and a testament to what we can achieve when state, federal and local officials work together for the betterment of the region.”
House Concurrent Resolution 13 calls on the federal government to:
- Work with Mexico to strengthen screwworm eradication and prevention strategies
- Expedite construction of the planned screwworm control facility at Moore Air Force Base
- Partner with Texas A&M AgriLife to expand screwworm research at its facility
- Fast-track FDA approval of medications to treat screwworm infections
- Accelerate EPA approval of pesticides to prevent and control infestations
Copies of the resolution will be sent to the White House, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, the FDA Commissioner, the EPA Administrator, and members of the Texas Congressional delegation. This resolution, passed by the Texas House and Senate and signed by Governor Abbott, sends a strong message to Washington DC to take decisive action to protect livestock, hardworking Texans’ livelihoods, and Texas’s crucial agriculture economy.
