Chronic Wasting Disease Transmission in Cervidae Study Act

To authorize a special resource study on the spread vectors of chronic wasting disease in Cervidae, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Chronic Wasting Disease Transmission in Cervidae Study Act 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Academy The term Academy (2) Cervid The term cervid (3) Chronic wasting disease The term chronic wasting disease (A) is a transmissible disease of the nervous system resulting in distinctive lesions in the brain; and (B) belongs to the group of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, which group includes scrapie, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. (4) Secretaries The term Secretaries (A) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; and (B) the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey. 3. Chronic wasting disease transmission in cervidae resource study (a) Study (1) In general The Secretaries shall enter into an arrangement with the Academy under which the Academy shall conduct, and submit to the Secretaries a report describing the findings of, a special resource study to identify the predominant pathways and mechanisms of the transmission of chronic wasting disease in wild, captive, and farmed populations of cervids in the United States. (2) Requirements The arrangement under paragraph (1) shall provide that the actual expenses incurred by the Academy in conducting the study under paragraph (1) shall be paid by the Secretaries. (b) Contents of the study The study under subsection (a) shall— (1) with respect to wild, captive, and farmed populations of cervids in the United States, identify— (A) (i) the pathways and mechanisms for the transmission of chronic wasting disease within live cervid populations and cervid products, which may include pathways and mechanisms for transmission from Canada; (ii) the infection rates for each pathway and mechanism identified under clause (i); and (iii) the relative frequency of transmission of each pathway and mechanism identified under clause (i); (B) (i) anthropogenic and environmental factors contributing to new chronic wasting disease emergence events; (ii) the development of geographical areas with increased chronic wasting disease prevalence; and (iii) the overall geographical patterns of chronic wasting disease distribution; (C) significant gaps in current scientific knowledge regarding the transmission pathways and mechanisms identified under subparagraph (A)(i); and (D) for prioritization the scientific research projects that will address the knowledge gaps identified under subparagraph (C); and (2) review and compare science-based best practices, standards, and guidance regarding the management of chronic wasting disease in wild, captive, and farmed populations of cervids in the United States that have been developed by— (A) the National Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; (B) the United States Geological Survey; and (C) State wildlife and agricultural agencies, in the case of practices, standards, and guidance that provide practical, science-based recommendations to State and Federal agencies for minimizing or eliminating the risk of transmission of chronic wasting disease in the United States. (c) Deadline The study under subsection (a) shall be completed not later than 180 days after the date on which funds are first made available for the study. (d) Data sharing The Secretaries shall share with the entity conducting the study under subsection (a) data and access to databases on chronic wasting disease under the jurisdiction of— (1) the Veterinary Services Program of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; and (2) the United States Geological Survey. (e) Report On completion of the study, the Secretaries shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report that describes— (1) the findings of the study; and (2) any conclusions and recommendations that the Secretaries determine to be appropriate.

Summary: Chronic Wasting Disease Transmission in Cervidae Study Act This bill requires the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the U.S. Geological Survey to contract the National Academy of Sciences to study the predominant pathways and mechanisms of the transmission of chronic wasting disease in wild, captive, and farmed populations of deer, elk, reindeer, and moose populations in the United States.