SAN ANTONIO (WOAI) — The new world screwworm is posing a huge threat to Texas livestock, the beef industry and the economy. Lawmakers are stepping up their efforts to keep the flesh-eating parasite out of the United States.

“Very soon, people are going to know what a screwworm is because they can't barbecue on the weekends,” explained Congressman Tony Gonzales.

The country has already closed the southern border to cattle imports for the next few weeks to try and get ahead of the issue.

Now leaders are calling for a new solution. A fly sterilization facility right here in Texas. The flies would be put on planes and dropped where the parasites are already living to help kill them off.

There's only one of these facilities in the western hemisphere right now: in Panama.

As the screwworms move further north into Mexico, Congressman Gonzales says Texas is the perfect spot to build another one.

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“Out in South and West Texas, makes a whole lot of sense of where that facility should be, so that way we could sterilize flies to prevent them from having screwworms spread this parasite,” said Gonzales.

Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn have already signed on to this effort, along with dozens of other leaders. Gonzales says it's urgent that the funding and plans for this facility start as soon as possible. Gonzales, Cornyn and Cruz, along with Ben Ray Luján, Cindy Hyde-Smith, and Martin Heinrich introduced the bipartisan Strengthening Tactics to Obstruct the Population of Screwworms Act, which would authorize funds for and direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to begin construction on a new sterile fly production facility.

“Ag producers across America are sounding the alarm - the New World Screwworm is making a comeback, and our livestock industry is in real danger. We need to fully eradicate this pest before it’s too late,” said Gonzales. “The STOP Screwworms Act provides dedicated resources to do just that. By authorizing the construction of a new sterile fly facility in the United States, we reduce our dependence on Latin American partners for eradication efforts and take matters into our own hands.”

“Combatting the destructive New World screwworm is vital to protecting our cattle, Texas producers, and the American livestock industry as a whole,” said Senator John Cornyn. “I am proud to lead this legislation to create a new facility dedicated to pushing these pests away from our border and will continue to work with Secretary Rollins and agriculture leaders across the state to ensure our farmers, ranchers, and producers have the resources they need.”

“Texas agriculture and livestock are a core part of the Texas economy, and they feed America and the world,” said Senator Ted Cruz. “I'm working daily with Secretary Rollins, Texas authorities, and my colleagues in Congress to safeguard Texas from threats including the New World Screwworm, and pushing Mexico to implement their commitments to eradication. This bill will advance those efforts, and Congress should pass it.”

The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on livestock, wildlife, and in rare cases, humans. The screwworms are moving toward the United States at an alarming rate. They can cause serious damage to their host, including death.

Currently, the United States relies on Mexico and Central American partners to form a “barrier” against the northward migration of the screwworm, but cases have surged recently, prompting concern that foreign intervention has been insufficient.

Last year, the screwworm was detected in the Mexican state of Chiapas, and additional cases have since been detected, spreading north throughout the Mexican states of Campeche and Tabasco.