#aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #efjh ,,an ,,act ,to support research and state management efforts on chronic wasting disease4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,chronic ,wasting ,disease ,research and ,management ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,chronic wasting disease1 the fatal neurological disease found in cervids1 is a fundamental threat to the health and vibrancy of deer1 elk1 and moose populations1 and the increased occurrence of chronic wasting disease in regionally diverse locations necessitates an escalation in research1 surveillance1 monitoring1 and management activities focused on containing and managing chronic wasting disease4 7#b7 ,a focus on research into the transmission of1 resistance to1 diagnosis of1 and epidemiology of chronic wasting disease is needed to inform future policies to combat the disease and ensure the health of cervid populations4 7#c7 ,because ,states and ,tribes have diverse policies for addressing chronic wasting disease1 the ,federal ,government1 in consultation with the ,chronic ,wasting ,disease ,task ,force established by section #ajd of ,america's ,conservation ,enhancement ,act 7,public ,law #aaf-ahh71 should coordinate financial and technical support to ,states and ,tribes1 ,state and ,tribal departments of agriculture1 ,state and ,tribal wildlife agencies1 institutions of higher education1 and research centers conducting scientific research on chronic wasting disease4 7#d7 ,pursuant to ,state and ,federal law1 the ,states retain primacy and policymaking authority with regard to wildlife management4 7#e7 ,under current policies1 chronic wasting disease remains a systemic threat to cervids4 7#f7 ,scientific advances that lead to the ability to stop transmission of chronic wasting disease are needed to ensure the long-term viability of cervids4 #c4 ,chronic wasting disease research and management program 7a7 ,research program 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this section1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall establish a program under which the ,secretary shall offer to enter into cooperative agreements or other legal instruments1 as authorized under #ajdac of the ,animal ,health ,protection ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #hcab71 with eligible entities to conduct research on the transmission of1 resistance to1 and diagnosis of chronic wasting disease4 7#b7 ,criteria for selection ,in entering into cooperative agreements or other legal instruments pursuant to paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that shall conduct research relating to-- 7,a7 7i7 methods and products to effectively detect infectious chronic wasting disease prions in live cervids1 cervid excreta1 the environment1 and inorganic surfaces1 and to decontaminate such infectious prions2 or 7ii7 testing methods that significantly improve sensitivity and accelerate timelines for test results on non-live cervids2 7,b7 the long-term suppression or eradication of chronic wasting disease2 or 7,c7 determination markers for genetic resistance to chronic wasting disease and strategies for using genetic resistance to combat the spread of the disease2 7,d7 sustainable cervid harvest management practices to reduce chronic wasting disease occurrence and to prevent or limit spatial spread of chronic wasting disease2 or 7,e7 factors contributing to local emergence of chronic wasting disease1 increased prevalence of chronic wasting disease1 and distribution of chronic wasting disease1 including mechanisms of disease transmission and effective barriers to transmission4 7#c7 ,size of awards ,to the maximum extent practicable1 individual cooperative agreements or other legal instruments entered into under paragraph 7#a7 shall be not less than two percent and not more than #aj percent of the funds appropriated to carry out this section4 7#d7 ,administrative costs by eligible entities ,of the amount of a cooperative agreement or other legal instrument entered into with an eligible entity under paragraph 7#a71 the eligible entity may use not more than #aj percent of such amounts for administrative costs incurred by the eligible entity in carrying out the research described in such paragraph4 7b7 ,support for ,state efforts to manage and control chronic wasting disease 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to the availability of appropriations1 the ,secretary shall offer to enter into cooperative agreements or other legal instruments1 as authorized under section #ajdac of the ,animal ,health ,protection ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #hcab71 with ,state or ,tribal wildlife agencies and departments of agriculture to provide direct financial assistance to support the efforts of such ,state or ,tribal wildlife agencies and departments of agriculture to develop and implement management strategies to address chronic wasting disease within their respective jurisdiction4 7#b7 ,application ,a ,state or ,tribal wildlife agency or department of agriculture seeking direct financial assistance under this subsection shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time and manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7#c7 ,funding priorities ,in allocating funds made available to carry out this subsection for a fiscal year among ,state and ,tribal wildlife agencies or departments of agriculture that submit an application for direct financial assistance under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall give priority to ,states and ,indian tribes that have-- 7,a7 within their respective jurisdictions1 the highest incidence of chronic wasting disease2 7,b7 shown the greatest financial commitment to managing1 monitoring1 surveying1 and researching chronic wasting disease2 7,c7 comprehensive policies and programs focused on chronic wasting disease management that have integrated the programs and policies of all involved agencies related to chronic wasting disease management2 7,d7 the greatest risk of an initial occurrence of chronic wasting disease originating from surrounding areas2 or 7,e7 the greatest need for response to new outbreaks of chronic wasting disease occurring in-- 7i7 areas in which chronic wasting disease is already found2 or 7ii7 areas with first infections1 with the intent of containing chronic wasting disease in any new area of infection4 7#d7 ,rapid response ,if a ,state or ,indian tribe detects chronic wasting disease in a cervid population within its jurisdiction that was not previously infected1 the ,secretary may1 notwithstanding paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c71 immediately issue funds made available under subsection 7e71 in an amount to be determined by the ,secretary1 to support ,state and ,tribal efforts to immediately control the spread of chronic wasting disease within that population4 7#e7 ,public education on chronic wasting disease ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with ,state and ,tribal departments of agriculture and wildlife agencies1 organizations representing the farmed cervid industry1 and organizations representing deer hunters1 shall develop and maintain materials based on the latest scientific knowledge to be used to educate the public on chronic wasting disease and techniques to help prevent the spread of the disease4 7c7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,chronic wasting disease ,the term chronic wasting disease means the animal disease afflicting deer1 elk1 and moose populations that-- 7,a7 is a transmissible disease of the nervous system resulting in distinctive lesions in the brain2 and 7,b7 belongs to the group of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies1 which includes scrapie1 bovine spongiform encephalopathy1 and ,cruetzfeldt-,jakob disease4 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a ,state or ,tribal department of agriculture2 7,b7 a ,state or ,tribal wildlife agency2 7,c7 a ,tribal research facility2 7,d7 an institution of higher education 7as defined in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja772 and 7,e7 a research center conducting or qualified to conduct scientific research on chronic wasting disease4 7d7 ,review of ,herd ,certification program standards ,not later than #ah months after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall publish a notice in the ,federal ,register soliciting public feedback on potential updates and improvements to the chronic wasting disease herd certification program standards with special consideration given to-- 7#a7 minimizing or eliminating the interaction of captive and wild deer2 7#b7 reviewing and updating indemnity practices1 including the use of live testing1 to ensure the timely and targeted removal of chronic wasting disease positive deer from the landscape2 and 7#c7 increasing participation in the herd certification program4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out this section #gj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through fiscal year #bjbh1 to remain available until expended4 7#b7 ,allocation among programs ,to the extent practicable1 the ,secretary shall allocate the funds made available under paragraph 7#a7 evenly between the research program under subsection 7a7 and the management program under subsection 7b74 7#c7 ,set-aside for wildlife agencies ,the ,secretary shall ensure that1 of the funds made available and allocated to carry out subsection 7b71 not less than #ge percent of such funds are made available to ,state or ,tribal wildlife agencies4 7f7 ,administrative costs ,of the funds made available under subsection 7e7 for a fiscal year to carry out this section1 the ,secretary may use not more than #aj percent of such funds for administrative costs incurred by the ,secretary in carrying out this section4 7g7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this section shall be construed as interfering with1 or otherwise affecting1 the authority of the ,federal ,government or ,states to manage wildlife and livestock on land within their respective jurisdictions1 including managing1 surveying1 and monitoring the incidence of chronic wasting disease4 #d4 ,technical amendment ,section #ajdjc7h7 of the ,animal ,health ,protection ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #hcjb7h77 is amended by striking 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #dej;b7 and inserting 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 ,passed the ,house of ,representatives ,december #h1 #bjba4;,clerk4