Justin Story, a Republican candidate for Congress in Florida’s 9th District, has issued a statement addressing the threat of the New World Screwworm, a parasite that can infest and kill livestock. The parasite, which was largely eradicated from the U.S. in the 1960s, has recently been detected in Texas and New Mexico, sparking concern for Florida’s agricultural sector.
Story’s Plan to Combat the Screwworm
Story voiced support for Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, pointing to the state’s immediate execution of emergency containment plans. He noted that the state’s restrictions on importing warm-blooded animals from high-risk areas, alongside mandated veterinary checkups and animal movement limits, are actively working to safeguard Florida from the parasite.
At the federal level, Story credited President Donald Trump and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins for launching the ‘New World Screwworm Grand Challenge,’ an initiative focused on accelerating sterile fly production and containment spending. Story stated that the USDA under the current administration is treating the outbreak ‘as the national security and agricultural security priority it is, pushing back hard against the threat while holding previous weak border policies accountable.’
The congressional candidate linked the parasitic outbreak directly to the country’s border infrastructure, arguing that gaps in current screening systems permit pests and foreign animal diseases to cross into domestic agricultural zones. ‘This threat highlights the urgent need for strong border security,’ Story stated. ‘Weak borders and insufficient inspections allow pests, diseases, and other risks to enter our country too easily. We must secure the southern border, enhance agricultural screenings, and prevent these threats from reaching the farms and ranches of Florida’s 9th Congressional District.’
Story pledged that, if elected to Congress, he will push for absolute federal backing of USDA APHIS sterile insect programs, heightened biological surveillance, and rapid-response funding designed specifically for agricultural regions.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
