Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program Enhancement Act of 2025
Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program Enhancement Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program Enhancement Act of 2025 This bill would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to hire an independent college or university to evaluate how well the existing Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program is working. Cattle fever ticks are parasites that can transmit a serious disease to cattle called bovine babesiosis.
Currently, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service works with the Texas Animal Health Commission to control these ticks, primarily in Texas where they're most prevalent. The review would assess whether the eradication program is effectively preventing and reducing the spread of cattle fever ticks, examine the treatment methods being used, and evaluate how the program affects cattle producers—including both its benefits and the costs and burdens of compliance. Essentially, the bill asks for an independent check-up on whether the current tick control program is achieving its goals efficiently and fairly for the ranchers involved. The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on.
CRS Official Summary
Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program Enhancement Act of 2025This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enter into a contract to evaluate the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program.Under the program, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service works in coordination with the Texas Animal Health Commission to combat the spread of cattle fever ticks, which can spread a serious cattle disease called bovine babesiosis or cattle fever.Specifically, USDA must enter into a contract to review and report on the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program with a (1) land-grant college or university, or (2) non-land-grant college of agriculture.The review must include an evaluation of the program's (1) effectiveness with respect to preventing and reducing the spread of cattle fever ticks; and (2) benefits, and the burdens of compliance, to cattle producers.The review must also evaluate the treatment protocols developed and implemented under the program.Further, the review must evaluate the federal and state funds allocated to support the program for the most recent fiscal year.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.