Chronic Wasting Disease Transmission in Cervidae Study Act

Bill: 115-s-3644
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2018-11-15
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Agriculture and Food

Animal and plant health

Congressional oversight

Government studies and investigations

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Livestock

Mammals

Medical research

Neurological disorders

Veterinary medicine and animal diseases
Latest action: action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-11-15
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Chronic Wasting Disease Transmission in Cervidae Study Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 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. </p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3644 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 15, 2018 Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Mr. Bennet , Mr. Jones , Mr. Cornyn , Mr. Johnson , Ms. Collins , Mr. Wicker , Mr. Thune , Mr. Enzi , and Mr. Manchin ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL 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 means the National Academy of Sciences. (2) Cervid The term cervid means any species within the family Cervidae. (3) Chronic wasting disease The term chronic wasting disease means the animal disease afflicting deer, elk, and moose populations that— (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) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. 3. Chronic wasting disease transmission in cervidae resource study (a) Study (1) In general The Secretary shall enter into an arrangement with the Academy under which the Academy shall conduct, and submit to the Secretary 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 Secretary. (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; (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; and (B) 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 Secretary shall share with the entity conducting the study under subsection (a) data and access to databases on chronic wasting disease under the jurisdiction of Veterinary Services Program of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. (e) Report On completion of the study, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report that describes— (1) the findings of the study; and (2) any conclusions and recommendations that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.