WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) reintroduced the Spotted Wing Abatement Trust (SWAT) Act alongside Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06). This bipartisan bill would help combat the spread of spotted wing drosophila (SWD), an invasive pest threatening stone fruit producers in the Central Valley and across the western United States, by strengthening the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) efforts to contain its spread and advance research into effective control and management strategies.

Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) reintroduced the companion bill in the Senate.

“Central Valley specialty crop growers work tirelessly to put food on tables across America, but invasive pests like the spotted wing drosophila (SWD) continue to make that job harder and more expensive,” said Congressman Valadao. “SWD spreads quickly and infests healthy fruit before harvest, leaving growers with significant crop losses and higher production costs. By investing in research and innovative pest management strategies, the bipartisan SWAT Act will help our producers stay ahead of this growing threat and protect one of the Central Valley’s most important industries.”

“You won’t find better fruits and vegetables than the ones that grow in Oregon,” said Rep. Salinas. “Our specialty crop growers produce everything from blueberries to wine grapes, and those crops support family farms, local jobs, and communities across the Willamette Valley. Spotted wing drosophila can spread quickly and destroy an entire crop, turning healthy fruit into an unusable product. The SWAT Act will direct $6.5 million to APHIS for the research and control tools growers need to fight this invasive pest, protect their livelihoods, and keep high-quality Oregon fruit on store shelves.”

Background:

The spotted wing drosophila (SWD) is an invasive pest native to East Asia that infests soft-skinned fruit crops, including peaches, plums, apricots, cherries, berries, and other specialty crops. Since it was first detected in the United States in 2008, SWD has spread throughout the West Coast, including California’s Central Valley, posing a growing threat to growers. Nationally, the pest is responsible for more than $700 million in annual economic losses. Because fruit buyers maintain a zero-tolerance policy for SWD, the discovery of a single larva can result in an entire shipment being rejected. As a result, growers must invest heavily in intensive pest management programs to protect their crops and meet market standards. The Spotted Wing Abatement Trust (SWAT) Act would establish a dedicated fund within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to support research, develop innovative control strategies, and strengthen efforts to reduce SWD populations across the United States.

Read the bill here.

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