Home > 108th Congressional Bills > H.R. 2431 (ih) To establish a National Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force, and for other purposes. [Introduced in House] ...H.R. 2431 (ih) To establish a National Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force, and for other purposes. [Introduced in House] ...
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.''.
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