U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO), joined by U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) and U.S. Senator Jim Justice (R-WV), introduced the Emerging Tick-Borne Livestock Disease Research Prioritization Act, which statutorily designates tick-borne livestock disease as a high-priority research area at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The bill authorizes USDA to make competitive grants within pre-existing research programs aimed at developing vaccines, therapeutics, and treatments for tick-borne livestock disease. Specifically, the bill targets diseases associated with the Asian Longhorned Tick, several of which lack an approved vaccine or treatment.
“Missouri is one of the nation’s leaders in livestock production, and our farmers and ranchers work too hard to have their livelihoods threatened by emerging tick-borne diseases. Invasive species like the Asian Longhorned Tick pose a growing risk to our livestock industry and the families who depend on it. By elevating the need for critical research into tick-borne livestock disease, we’re helping ensure producers have the tools they need to protect their herds, strengthen our food supply, and keep America’s agriculture industry competitive. I’ll keep working with Missouri’s farm families to protect for the Show-Me State’s number one economic driver,” said Senator Schmitt.
“Cattle producers are not short on issues impacting their industry right now. The national cattle herd size is the lowest it’s been in 75 years, and with emerging threats like Asian Longhorned Ticks and New World Screwworm, the industry is under even more pressure. USDA needs to do everything they can to help find ways to combat vector-borne diseases and other threats to livestock, and this bill makes it a priority for them,” said Senator Jim Justice.
Source : senate.gov