SAFE CATTLE Act

This legislation mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior enter into a memorandum of understanding or interagency agreement within 180 days of enactment. This agreement is designed to facilitate coordinated activities aimed at the prevention, control, and eradication of New World screwworm in wildlife and non-livestock animals on federal lands. Key activities include:

• Coordinating joint surveillance and monitoring for early detection.
• Collaborating with State wildlife and livestock health officers on response procedures during outbreaks.
• Implementing eradication protocols to protect animals, reduce threats to domestic agriculture, and safeguard the food supply.
• Developing science-based and risk-based approaches to ensure business continuity for non-infected animals and non-contaminated areas.

Furthermore, the bill requires the Secretaries to submit a joint annual report to Congress, starting one year after enactment. This reporting continues until the Secretary of Agriculture certifies that the New World screwworm has been quarantined south of the Darien Gap in Panama. The report must detail the extent of interagency coordination, progress in surveillance and prevention, any infestation incidents and Federal responses, and recommendations for improving the Federal response capacity. The term "covered lands" specifically refers to lands managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, or the Forest Service.