108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2430
To amend the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act to coordinate and
strengthen scientific research and monitoring, and to promote public outreach,
education, and awareness, of Chronic Wasting Disease affecting free-ranging
populations of deer and elk, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 11, 2003
Mr. KIND (for himself, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. TERRY, Mr. GILCHREST, Mr.
GUTKNECHT, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. MANZULLO, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, Mr. PETERSON
of Minnesota, Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota, Mr. REHBERG, Mr. STUPAK, Mr. THOMPSON
of California, and Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committee
on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction
of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act to coordinate and
strengthen scientific research and monitoring, and to promote public outreach,
education, and awareness, of Chronic Wasting Disease affecting free-ranging
populations of deer and elk, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Chronic Wasting Disease Research, Monitoring,
and Education Enhancement Act of 2003'.
SEC. 2. CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE RESEARCH AND MONITORING AND PUBLIC EDUCATION
AND OUTREACH.
(a) IN GENERAL- The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
`SEC. 10. CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE.
`(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director
of the United States Geological Survey, shall carry out in accordance with
this section a program to support, conduct, and coordinate programs to strengthen
scientific research and monitoring and public education activities to elevate
knowledge of Chronic Wasting Disease in free-ranging populations of deer and
elk.
`(b) PURPOSES- The purposes of the program shall be the following:
`(1) To initiate and encourage completion of the relevant goals and action
plans specified in the National Plan.
`(2) To enhance the scientific understanding of Chronic Wasting Disease.
`(3) To provide technical assistance in support of State efforts to conduct
scientific research, implement wildlife management strategies, and conduct
and promote comprehensive public education programs in affected States.
`(c) RESEARCH AND MONITORING-
`(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary may support, promote, and coordinate research
on, and long-term monitoring and surveillance of, Chronic Wasting Disease
as it affects deer and elk in States identified as having the disease present
within their borders, to promote improved understanding of the disease and
support State management of deer and elk.
`(2) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES- Activities under this subsection may include
scientific research, monitoring, surveillance, and disease management activities
identified in the National Plan, including the following:
`(A) Research to investigate the biology, pathogenesis, host ecology,
epidemiology, transmission, and environmental persistence of Chronic Wasting
Disease.
`(B) Development and utilization of an Internet-based biological data
management system and integrated information sharing network.
`(C) Development, testing, and validation of rapid diagnostic methods.
`(D) Development of new testing and screening techniques for Chronic Wasting
Disease, including live animal early detection field tests.
`(E) Surveillance programs to track the prevalence, incidence, and distribution
of Chronic Wasting Disease in wild populations of deer and elk.
`(F) Research and development of therapeutics and vaccines.
`(G) Development and implementation of field sampling methods and comprehensive
assessments of deer and elk populations.
`(3) OTHER ACTIVITIES TO IMPLEMENT NATIONAL PLAN AND SUPPORT STATE ACTIVITIES-
The Secretary may implement other research and monitoring activities as
necessary to implement the National Plan and to support State activities
to manage and conserve deer and elk.
`(e) NATIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION STRATEGY-
`(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall develop and promote a national public
education strategy--
`(A) to increase awareness among the hunting community and the general
public of the distribution of Chronic Wasting Disease;
`(B) to enhance comprehension of the biology, ecology, and epidemiology
of the Chronic Wasting Disease; and
`(C) to support and communicate State management activities to control
Chronic Wasting Disease in deer and elk populations.
`(2) GOALS- The goals of the strategy are the following:
`(A) Increasing public awareness of Federal, State, and tribal Chronic
Wasting Disease activities.
`(B) Distilling and disseminating to the general public scientific and
technical information concerning Chronic Wasting Disease in an easily
comprehended manner.
`(C) Providing updates and reviews of advances in Chronic Wasting Disease
control methods for deer and elk.
`(D) Development of print, video, and other interpretive and media materials
to implement the strategy and to communicate accomplishments in addressing
the problem of Chronic Wasting Disease.
`(3) TARGETING- The strategy should target stakeholder groups in States
affected by Chronic Wasting disease, including consumptive and non-consumptive
users of deer and elk.
`(f) CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION- In conducting, supporting, and coordinating
activities authorized under this section, the Secretary shall consult coordinate,
where appropriate, with other Federal, interstate, or regional agencies, State
agencies, tribes, local communities, non-governmental organizations, and colleges
and universities.
`(g) REPORT REQUIREMENTS- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this section, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall report to the
Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Environment and Public Works in the Senate on the activities implemented under
this section.
`(h) AVAILABILITY OF RESULTS- The Secretary shall make available to the public
the results of research and monitoring conducted, supported, or permitted
by the Secretary under this section.
`(i) DEFINITIONS- For the purposes of this section:
`(1) CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE- The term `Chronic Wasting Disease' means the
transmissible animal disease that afflicts deer and elk and belongs to the
group of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.
`(2) DEER AND ELK- The term `deer and elk' means--
`(A) free-ranging populations of deer and elk residing in proximity of
the endemic area for Chronic Wasting Disease as identified in the National
Plan; and
`(B) deer and elk residing in States outside of that endemic area, where
the disease has been introduced and established in deer and elk populations.
`(3) NATIONAL PLAN- The term `National Plan' means the plan published jointly
by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture entitled
`Plan for Assisting States, Federal Agencies, and Tribes in Managing Chronic
Wasting Disease in Wild and Captive Cervids', dated June 26, 2002.
`(4) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of the Interior,
acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey.
`(5) STATE- The term `State' means the several States of the United States,
Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and the territories
and possessions of the United States.
`(h) REPORT- The Secretary of the Interior shall submit a report describing
activities undertaken to implement this section to the Committee on Resources
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public
Works of the Senate by not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this section and biennially thereafter.
`(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- To implement this section there are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary the following:
`(1) RESEARCH AND MONITORING- For the implementation of scientific research
and monitoring activities under subsection (d), $15,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2004 through 2009.
`(2) PUBLIC EDUCATION- For the implementation of public education activities
under subsection (e), $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2009.
`(3) ADMINISTRATION- For the administration of this section by the Secretary
$1,00,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2009.'.
END
