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(ii) such other reports as the Secre-
taries may require to assist the Secretaries 
in determining the effectiveness of assisted 
activities under this section. 
(c) SENSE OF THE SENATE.—It is the sense of the Sen-
ate that— 
(1) no State or Indian tribe is required to par-
ticipate in the program; and 
(2) the program supplements, and does not re-
place or supplant, any State compensation programs 
for depredation. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025, of 
which— 
(1) $5,000,000 shall be used to provide grants for 
the purposes described in subsection (b)(1)(A); and 
(2) $10,000,000 shall be used to provide grants 
for the purpose described in subsection (b)(1)(B). 
SEC. 103. DEPREDATION PERMITS FOR BLACK VULTURES 
AND COMMON RAVENS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior, act-
ing through the Director of the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’), may issue depredation permits to livestock pro-
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ducers authorizing takings of black vultures or common 
ravens otherwise prohibited by Federal law to prevent those 
vultures or common ravens from taking livestock during the 
calving season or lambing season. 
(b) LIMITED TO AFFECTED STATES OR REGIONS.— 
The Secretary may issue permits under subsection (a) only 
to livestock producers in States and regions in which live-
stock producers are affected or have been affected in the pre-
vious year by black vultures or common ravens, as deter-
mined by Secretary. 
(c) REPORTING.—The Secretary shall require, as a 
condition of a permit under subsection (a), that the permit 
holder shall report to the appropriate enforcement agencies 
the takings of black vultures or common ravens pursuant 
to the permit. 
SEC. 104. CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE TASK FORCE. 
(a) DEFINITION OF CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘chronic wasting disease’’ means the 
animal disease afflicting deer, elk, and moose populations 
that— 
(1) is a transmissible disease of the nervous sys-
tem resulting in distinctive lesions in the brain; and 
(2) belongs to the group of diseases known as 
transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, which
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group 
includes 
scrapie, 
bovine 
spongiform 
encephalopathy, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established within 
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service a task 
force, to be known as the ‘‘Chronic Wasting Disease 
Task Force’’ (referred to in this subsection as the 
‘‘Task Force’’). 
(2) DUTIES.—The Task Force shall— 
(A) collaborate with foreign governments to 
share research, coordinate efforts, and discuss 
best management practices to reduce, minimize, 
prevent, or eliminate chronic wasting disease in 
the United States; 
(B) develop recommendations, including 
recommendations based on findings of the study 
conducted under subsection (c), and a set of best 
practices regarding— 
(i) the interstate coordination of prac-
tices to prevent the new introduction of 
chronic wasting disease; 
(ii) the prioritization and coordination 
of the future study of chronic wasting dis-
ease, based on evolving research needs;
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(iii) ways to leverage the collective re-
sources of Federal, State, and local agencies, 
Indian Tribes, and foreign governments, 
and resources from private, nongovern-
mental entities, to address chronic wasting 
disease in the United States and along the 
borders of the United States; and 
(iv) any other area where containment 
or management efforts relating to chronic 
wasting disease may differ across jurisdic-
tions; 
(C) draw from existing and future academic 
and management recommendations to develop an 
interstate action plan under which States and 
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
agree to enact consistent management, edu-
cational, and research practices relating to 
chronic wasting disease; and 
(D) facilitate the creation of a cooperative 
agreement by which States and relevant Federal 
agencies agree to commit funds to implement 
best practices described in the interstate action 
plan developed under subparagraph (C). 
(3) MEMBERSHIP.—
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(A) IN GENERAL.—The Task Force shall be 
composed of— 
(i) 1 representative of the United 
States Fish and Wildlife Service with expe-
rience in chronic wasting disease, to be ap-
pointed by the Secretary of the Interior (re-
ferred to in this subsection as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’); 
(ii) 1 representative of the United 
States Geological Survey; 
(iii) 2 representatives of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture with experience in 
chronic wasting disease, to be appointed by 
the Secretary of Agriculture— 
(I) 1 of whom shall have expertise 
in research; and 
(II) 1 of whom shall have exper-
tise in wildlife management; 
(iv) in the case of each State in which 
chronic wasting disease among elk, mule 
deer, white-tailed deer, or moose has been 
reported to the appropriate State agency, 
not more than 2 representatives, to be nomi-
nated by the Governor of the State—
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(I) not more than 1 of whom shall 
be a representative of the State agency 
with jurisdiction over wildlife manage-
ment or wildlife disease in the State; 
and 
(II) in the case of a State with a 
farmed cervid program or economy, 
not more than 1 of whom shall be a 
representative of the State agency with 
jurisdiction over farmed cervid regula-
tion in the State; 
(v) in the case of each State in which 
chronic wasting disease among elk, mule 
deer, white-tailed deer, or moose has not 
been documented, but that has carried out 
measures to prevent the introduction of 
chronic wasting disease among those species, 
not more than 2 representatives, to be nomi-
nated by the Governor of the State; 
(vi) not more than 2 representatives 
from an Indian tribe or tribal organization 
chosen in a process determined, in consulta-
tion with Indian tribes, by the Secretary; 
and
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(vii) not more than 5 nongovernmental 
members with relevant expertise appointed, 
after the date on which the members are 
first appointed under clauses (i) through 
(vi), by a majority vote of the State rep-
resentatives appointed under clause (iv). 
(B) EFFECT.—Nothing in this paragraph 
requires a State to participate in the Task Force. 
(4) CO-CHAIRS.—The Co-Chairs of the Task 
Force shall be— 
(A) the Federal representative described in 
paragraph (3)(A)(i); and 
(B) 1 State representative appointed under 
paragraph (3)(A)(iv), to be selected by a major-
ity vote of those State representatives. 
(5) DATE OF INITIAL APPOINTMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The members of the Task 
Force shall be appointed not later than 180 days 
after the date on which the study is completed 
under subsection (c). 
(B) NOTIFICATION.—On appointment of the 
members of the Task Force, the Co-Chairs of the 
Task Force shall notify the Chairs and Ranking 
Members of the Committees on Environment and
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Public Works of the Senate and Natural Re-
sources of the House of Representatives. 
(6) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the members 
appointed to the Task Force— 
(A) shall not affect the power or duty of the 
Task Force; and 
(B) shall be filled not later than 30 days 
after the date of the vacancy. 
(7) MEETINGS.—The Task Force shall convene— 
(A) not less frequently than twice each year; 
and 
(B) at such time and place, and by such 
means, as the Co-Chairs of the Task Force deter-
mine to be appropriate, which may include the 
use of remote conference technology. 
(8) INTERSTATE ACTION PLAN.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date on which the members of the Task 
Force are appointed, the Task Force shall submit 
to the Secretary, and the heads of the State agen-
cies with jurisdiction over wildlife disease and 
farmed cervid regulation of each State with a 
representative on the Task Force, the interstate 
action plan developed by the Task Force under 
paragraph (2)(C).
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(B) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—To the maximum ex-
tent practicable, the Secretary, any other 
applicable Federal agency, and each appli-
cable State shall enter into a cooperative 
agreement to fund necessary actions under 
the interstate action plan submitted under 
subparagraph (A). 
(ii) TARGET
DATE.—The Secretary 
shall make the best effort of the Secretary to 
enter into any cooperative agreement under 
clause (i) not later than 180 days after the 
date of submission of the interstate action 
plan under subparagraph (A). 
(C) MATCHING FUNDS.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to clause 
(ii), for each fiscal year, the United States 
Fish and Wildlife Service shall provide 
funds to carry out an interstate action plan 
through a cooperative agreement under sub-
paragraph (B) in the amount of funds pro-
vided by the applicable States. 
(ii) LIMITATION.—The amount pro-
vided by the United State Fish and Wildlife
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Service under clause (i) for a fiscal year 
shall be not greater than $5,000,000. 
(9) REPORTS.—Not later than September 30 of 
the first full fiscal year after the date on which the 
first members of the Task Force are appointed, and 
each September 30 thereafter, the Task Force shall 
submit to the Secretary, and the heads of the State 
agencies with jurisdiction over wildlife disease and 
farmed cervid regulation of each State with a rep-
resentatives on the Task Force, a report describing— 
(A) progress on the implementation of ac-
tions identified in the interstate action plan sub-
mitted under paragraph (8)(A), including the ef-
ficacy of funding under the cooperative agree-
ment entered into under paragraph (8)(B); 
(B) updated resource requirements that are 
needed to reduce and eliminate chronic wasting 
disease in the United States; 
(C) any relevant updates to the rec-
ommended best management practices included 
in the interstate action plan submitted under 
paragraph (8)(B) to reduce or eliminate chronic 
wasting disease;
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(D) new research findings and emerging re-
search needs relating to chronic wasting disease; 
and 
(E) any other relevant information. 
(c) CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE TRANSMISSION
IN 
CERVIDAE RESOURCE STUDY.— 
(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) 
ACADEMY.—The 
term 
‘‘Academy’’ 
means the National Academy of Sciences. 
(B) CERVID.—The term ‘‘cervid’’ means 
any species within the family Cervidae. 
(C) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘Secretaries’’ 
means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
through the Administrator of the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service, and the Sec-
retary of the Interior, acting through the Direc-
tor of the United States Geological Survey, act-
ing jointly. 
(2) STUDY.— 
(A) 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
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the transmission of chronic wasting disease in 
wild, captive, and farmed populations of cervids 
in the United States. 
(B) 
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
arrangement 
under subparagraph (A) shall provide that the 
actual expenses incurred by the Academy in con-
ducting the study under subparagraph (A) shall 
be paid by the Secretaries, subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations. 
(3) CONTENTS OF THE STUDY.—The study under 
paragraph (2) shall— 
(A) with respect to wild, captive, and 
farmed populations of cervids in the United 
States, identify— 
(i)(I) the pathways and mechanisms 
for the transmission of chronic wasting dis-
ease within live cervid populations and 
cervid products, which may include path-
ways and mechanisms for transmission 
from Canada; 
(II) the infection rates for each path-
way and mechanism identified under sub-
clause (I); and
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(III) the relative frequency of trans-
mission of each pathway and mechanism 
identified under subclause (I); 
(ii)(I) anthropogenic and environ-
mental factors contributing to new chronic 
wasting disease emergence events; 
(II) the development of geographical 
areas with increased chronic wasting dis-
ease prevalence; and 
(III) the overall geographical patterns 
of chronic wasting disease distribution; 
(iii) significant gaps in current sci-
entific knowledge regarding the trans-
mission pathways and mechanisms identi-
fied under clause (i)(I) and potential pre-
vention, detection, and control methods 
identified under clause (v); 
(iv) for prioritization the scientific re-
search projects that will address the knowl-
edge gaps identified under clause (iii), 
based on the likelihood that a project will 
contribute significantly to the prevention or 
control of chronic wasting disease; and 
(v) potential prevention, detection, or 
control measures, practices, or technologies
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to be used to mitigate the transmission and 
spread of chronic wasting disease in wild, 
captive, and farmed populations of cervids 
in the United States; 
(B) assess the effectiveness of the potential 
prevention, detection, or control measures, prac-
tices, or technologies identified under subpara-
graph (A)(v); and 
(C) review and compare science-based best 
practices, standards, and guidance regarding the 
prevention, detection, and management of chron-
ic wasting disease in wild, captive, and farmed 
populations of cervids in the United States that 
have been developed by— 
(i) the National Chronic Wasting Dis-
ease Herd Certification Program of the Ani-
mal and Plant Health Inspection Service; 
(ii) the United States Geological Sur-
vey; 
(iii) 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 elimi-
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nating the risk of transmission of chronic 
wasting disease in the United States; and 
(iv) industry or academia, in the case 
of any published guidance on practices that 
provide 
practical, 
science-based 
rec-
ommendations to cervid producers for mini-
mizing or eliminating the risk of trans-
mission of chronic wasting disease within 
or between herds. 
(4) DEADLINE.—The study under paragraph (2) 
shall be completed not later than 180 days after the 
date on which funds are first made available for the 
study. 
(5) DATA SHARING.—The Secretaries shall share 
with the Academy, as necessary to conduct the study 
under paragraph (2), subject to the avoidance of a 
violation of a privacy or confidentiality requirement 
and the protection of confidential or privileged com-
mercial, financial, or proprietary information, data 
and access to databases on chronic wasting disease 
under the jurisdiction of— 
(A) the Veterinary Services Program of the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; 
and 
(B) the United States Geological Survey.
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(6) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of 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 Ag-
riculture and the Committee on Natural Resources of 
the House of Representatives a report that describes— 
(A) the findings of the study; and 
(B) any conclusions and recommendations 
that the Secretaries determine to be appropriate. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section— 
(1) for the period of fiscal years 2021 through 
2025, $5,000,000 to the Secretary of the Interior, act-
ing through the Director of the United States Fish 
and Wildlife Service, to carry out administrative ac-
tivities under subsection (b); 
(2) for fiscal year 2021, $1,200,000 to the Sec-
retary of the Interior, acting through the Director of 
the United States Geological Survey, to carry out ac-
tivities to fund research under subsection (c); and 
(3) for fiscal year 2021, $1,200,000 to the Sec-
retary of Agriculture, acting through the Adminis-
trator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
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Service, to carry out activities to fund research under 
subsection (c). 
SEC. 105. INVASIVE SPECIES. 
Section 10 of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act 
(16 U.S.C. 666c–1) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) 
as clauses (ii) and (iii), respectively; and 
(ii) by inserting before clause (ii) (as 
so redesignated) the following: 
‘‘(i) relevant Federal agencies;’’; 
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) 
and (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respec-
tively; and 
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the 
following: 
‘‘(B) in consultation with stakeholders, in-
cluding nongovernmental organizations and in-
dustry;’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(p) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025—