,i #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #eaef ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #ag1 #bjad ,ms4 ,shea-,porter 7for herself and ,mr4 ,de,fazio7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,agriculture and the ,budget1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,secretary of the ,interior to identify and declare wildlife disease emergencies and to coordinate rapid response to these emergencies1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,wildlife ,disease ,emergency ,act of #bjad4 #b4 ,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act are to-- 7#a7 authorize the ,secretary of the ,interior to identify and declare wildlife disease emergencies2 7#b7 establish a fund through which the ,secretary may coordinate rapid response to these emergencies2 and 7#c7 prepare for1 identify1 and address wildlife diseases adversely affecting wildlife populations and biodiversity through strategic and coordinated actions between the ,federal agencies and ,state and local agencies1 ,indian tribes1 and nongovernmental organizations4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,committee ,the term ,committee means the ,wildlife ,disease ,committee established under section #f4 7#b7 ,fund ,the term ,fund means the ,wildlife ,disease ,emergency ,fund established by section #e4 7#c7 ,indian tribe ,the term ,indian tribe has the meaning given that term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #dej;b74 7#d7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7#e7 ,state ,the term ,state means any ,state1 the ,district of ,columbia1 and any other possession of the ,united ,states4 7#f7 ,wildlife ,the term wildlife means any species native to the ,united ,states including nondomesticated mammals1 fish1 birds1 amphibians1 reptiles1 mollusks1 and arthropods4 7#g7 ,wildlife disease ,the term wildlife disease means an infectious or noninfectious1 pathological condition occurring in a susceptible population of wildlife1 that is not zoonotic4 7#h7 ,wildlife disease emergency ,the term wildlife disease emergency means the occurrence of a wildlife disease that-- 7,a7 is infectious and caused by a newly discovered pathogen or a known infectious wildlife disease that is expanding its geographic range1 the species impacted by the disease1 or other recognized impacts of the disease2 7,b7 poses significant threats to the sustainability of wildlife2 or 7,c7 poses a significant threat to the overall health of a functioning ecosystem4 #d4 ,declaration of wildlife disease emergency 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of the ,interior1 in consultation with the ,governor of a potentially affected ,state or ,states1 may declare within such ,state or ,states a wildlife disease emergency for any wildlife disease that is-- 7#a7 occurring in the ,united ,states2 or 7#b7 occurring outside the ,united ,states with the potential to enter the ,united ,states4 7b7 ,considerations ,in making a declaration under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall consider-- 7#a7 the level of threat the wildlife disease poses to affected wildlife populations1 based on the-- 7,a7 relative threat to population levels2 7,b7 relative strength of the contagion and spread of the disease2 7,c7 observed rate of morbidity or mortality of the disease2 and 7,d7 importance of affected species or ecosystems1 including-- 7i7 species and habitats identified as priorities by the ,federal ,government1 a ,state1 or local government1 or a ,federal1 ,state1 or local conservation plan2 and 7ii7 wildlife located on ,federal lands2 7#b7 the sufficiency of resources available in the ,fund2 7#c7 the ability of the ,department of the ,interior and other ,federal1 ,state1 and local agencies1 tribal governments1 and other stakeholders to address and coordinate response to the disease through other authorities2 7#d7 the request of any ,state ,governor to make such a declaration2 and 7#e7 the economic consequences of a significant population decline in the impacted species due to the disease4 7c7 ,response coordination ,upon a declaration of a wildlife disease emergency by the ,secretary1 the ,secretary shall lead a coordinated response to the emergency that shall include appropriate ,federal agencies1 ,state and local governments1 ,indian tribes1 nongovernmental organizations1 or other stakeholders4 7d7 ,grant program ,the ,secretary shall develop and implement a grant program to provide funding to ,state wildlife agencies and ,indian tribes to address wildlife disease emergencies4 #e4 ,wildlife disease emergency fund 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established in the ,treasury of the ,united ,states a separate account1 which shall be known as the ,wildlife ,disease ,emergency ,fund and shall consist of-- 7#a7 such funds as are appropriated to the ,secretary for activities authorized by this ,act to address a wildlife disease emergency2 and 7#b7 any funds received by the ,secretary as a donation1 gift1 or contribution identified by the person providing the funds for use to address wildlife disease emergencies4 7b7 ,prohibition ,amounts in the ,fund may not be made available for any purpose other than to respond to a wildlife disease emergency declared under section #d4 7c7 ,annual reports 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #fj days after the end of each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year #bjac1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives1 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate1 the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works of the ,senate1 and the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives a report on the operation of the ,fund during the fiscal year4 7#b7 ,contents ,each report shall include1 for the fiscal year covered by the report1 the following3 7,a7 ,a statement of the amounts deposited into the ,fund4 7,b7 ,a description of the expenditures made from the ,fund1 including the purpose of the expenditures4 7,c7 ,recommendations of additional authorities to fulfill the purpose of the ,fund4 7,d7 ,a statement of the balance remaining in the ,fund at the end of the fiscal year4 7d7 ,separate ,appropriations account ,section #aaje7;a7 of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#ci7 a separate appropriations account for the ,wildlife ,disease ,emergency ,fund established under section #e of the ,wildlife ,disease ,emergency ,act of #bjac1 which shall include the estimated amount of deposits into the ,fund1 and obligations and outlays from the ,fund4 4 #f4 ,wildlife disease committee 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary may establish a ,wildlife ,disease ,committee4 ,the purpose of the ,committee shall be to assist the ,secretary in increasing the level of preparedness of the ,united ,states to address emerging wildlife diseases4 7b7 ,duties ,the ,committee shall-- 7#a7 advise the ,secretary on risk assessment1 preparation1 monitoring1 research1 and response to wildlife diseases that may significantly impact the health and sustainability of wildlife populations2 and 7#b7 draft reports1 recommendations1 plans1 or other documents to assist the ,secretary in carrying out this ,act4 7c7 ,membership 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 members of the ,committee shall be appointed by the ,secretary from among individuals who are qualified by education1 training1 or experience in topics such as wildlife health1 biology1 ecology1 wildlife conservation1 and natural resource management4 7#b7 ,inclusions ,the ,committee shall include-- 7,a7 qualified individuals who are employed by ,federal agencies2 7,b7 at least #h qualified individuals who are employed by a ,state fish and wildlife agency1 each of whom shall be employed in a different region of the #h regions of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service2 7,c7 qualified individuals employed by other ,state agencies and tribal entities2 and 7,d7 qualified individuals who represent public and private organizations4 7d7 ,committee chair ,the ,committee shall be chaired by the ,secretary or a designee of the ,secretary4 7e7 ,staffing and assistance ,the ,secretary shall make available to the ,committee any staff1 information1 administrative services1 or assistance the ,secretary determines is reasonably required to enable the ,committee to carry out its functions4 7f7 ,renewal ,notwithstanding the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app471 the ,secretary may renew the ,committee beyond the date it would otherwise terminate under that ,act4 #g4 ,rapid response teams ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,committee as appropriate1 may convene rapid response teams to address any particular wildlife disease emergency4 #h4 ,administration ,nothing in this ,act shall be construed to-- 7#a7 limit the ,secretary's authority to respond to wildlife disease events that are not declared wildlife disease emergencies under this ,act2 7#b7 affect the authority1 jurisdiction1 or responsibility of the ,states to manage1 control1 or regulate fish and resident wildlife under any ,state laws and regulations2 7#c7 grant authority to any public agency to acquire private property or conservation easements or otherwise infringe any use of private property2 or 7#d7 limit1 repeal1 supersede1 or modify any provision of ,federal1 ,state1 local1 or tribal laws and regulations4