Ciscomani Delivers for Rural Arizona, Persistence Pays Off with $25 Million USDA Investment in Cochise County

August 3, 2026 Press Release 'I am proud to have advocated for the USDA’s urgent action against the threat of New World Screwworm and am grateful to Secretary Rollins and the whole department for prioritizing the health of Arizona and American agriculture.' Tucson, AZ - Persistence paid off for Congressman Juan Ciscomani last week when the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a $25 million investment to combat a flesh-eating parasite threatening the American livestock industry. "This announcement was music to the ears of ranchers in my district and across the country," said Ciscomani. "But it didn’t happen overnight. A major investment like this in a rural community is the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of determined people. I was honored to be part of it." Ciscomani has championed multiple efforts over the past year to combat the threat of New World Screwworm, a parasitic fly that lays eggs in open wounds ⁠and the mucous membranes of cattle and other warm-blooded animals. Once the eggs hatch, hundreds of screwworm larvae burrow through the animal’s flesh, eventually killing it if left untreated. Last week’s announcement, made by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins at an event in Douglas, will lead to the opening of a state-of-the-art facility in Douglas to produce and disperse millions of sterile flies that will function as a form of birth control for the screwworm, disrupting reproduction and halting an outbreak. "This facility will be a real gamechanger," Ciscomani said. "It represents a commitment by Secretary Rollins and this administration to confront a serious problem head on. Arizona spoke, they listened and that’s exactly how this is supposed to work." Secretary Rollins acknowledged Ciscomani’s leadership at last week’s event. "There has been no one who has been advocating more for this facility and trying to get it across the finish line into the end zone than your U.S. Representative, Juan Ciscomani," Rollins said. "We talked about this for months now. He has texted me almost every day about it." A video of her remarks can be seen HERE . Ciscomani’s actions over the last 8 months include: December 2025: In response to the rising need for a modernized facility in Douglas, Rep. Ciscomani joined by Reps. Paul Gosar, David Schweikert, Andy Biggs, and Eli Crane, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins urging the department to take action on the matter. Douglas played a pivotal role in screwworm eradication from 1963 to 1983. Its sterile fly facility maintained a barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border before closing after screwworm was eliminated in Mexico. May 2026: During Secretary Rollins’ first visit to Arizona to announce the Great American Cotton Plan, she and Rep. Ciscomani heard directly from ranchers in Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District on the importance of reestablishing a modernized facility in Douglas, not just for the health and safety of agriculture and livestock in Arizona, but across the nation. June 2026: Following confirmed detection of the New World Screwworm in the United States, the lawmakers sent a second letter to Secretary Rollins to underscore Arizona’s unique position to support the department’s efforts in responding to this threat and thanked the department for its proactive approach of coordinating across agencies and deploying available resources to support and protect America’s agriculture. July 2026: Rep. Ciscomani worked with leadership at the University of Arizona and sent a letter to Secretary Rollins in support of a grant for the University to expand research, surveillance, education, and outreach efforts across Arizona to combat the threat of New World Screwworm. The USDA responded swiftly by awarding the University of Arizona with a $3.74 million Grand Challenge Grant in early July, which will be used to directly protect agriculture across Arizona and the United States from the damage a New World Screwworm outbreak would cause. July 29, 2026: Secretary Rollins announced during a press conference in Douglas, AZ that USDA is making a $25 million investment to reestablish a sterile fly dispersal facility in Douglas in addition to the reopening of the Southern Cattle Port at the Douglas Port of Entry. "The strength of agriculture in Arizona and across the United States is currently being threatened by the reemergence of the New World Screwworm. I am proud to have advocated for the USDA’s urgent action against the threat of New World Screwworm and am grateful to Secretary Rollins and the whole department for prioritizing the health of Arizona and American agriculture," said Ciscomani. "I look forward to how the USDA’s investments will help combat this threat and appreciate Secretary Rollins’ continued partnership and support. Reestablishing a sterile fly dispersal facility in Douglas and awarding a crucial research grant to the University of Arizona shows the USDA’s desire to tackle this issue head-on and will equip Arizona to lead the fight against the threat New World Screwworm poses to farmers and ranchers across the nation." One local rancher, Ben Menges, spoke with Secretary Rollins during her visit in May and has worked with Rep. Ciscomani to advocate for the Arizona agriculture community. "I am beyond grateful to Rep. Ciscomani for his continued efforts to support AZ-06 farmers and ranchers. When we voiced our concerns about the reemergence of New World Screwworm, he listened and took action to advocate on our behalf," said Menges, a fifth-generation rancher from Safford. "Rep. Ciscomani and Secretary Rollins have worked to protect Arizona’s agriculture, pets, and wildlife against the imminent threat of screwworm, and I look forward to the continued partnership of leaders in our local agriculture industry, Rep. Ciscomani, and Secretary Rollins. I am encouraged by the USDA’s recent investments and the direct impact they will have in Arizona's ability to combat this issue." This is an ongoing challenge for the industry and remains a priority for the USDA and Rep. Ciscomani. Read local coverage from the Sierra Vista Herald on the USDA’s investments HERE . ###