,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #daaa ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #bh1 #bjbb,mr4 ,hoeven 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,heinrich1 ,mr4 ,tester1 ,mr4 ,daines1 ,ms4 ,klobuchar1 ,mr4 ,marshall1 ,ms4 ,smith1 ,mrs4 ,hyde-,smith1 and ,mr4 ,booker7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to support research and ,state management efforts relating to chronic wasting disease1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,chronic ,wasting ,disease ,research and ,management ,act of #bjbb4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 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 disease2 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 chronic wasting disease and ensure the health of cervid populations2 7#c7 because ,states and ,indian ,tribes have diverse policies for addressing chronic wasting disease1 the ,federal ,government1 in consultation with the ,chronic ,wasting ,disease ,task ,force established under section #ajd of ,america's ,conservation ,enhancement ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ffg;h71 should coordinate financial and technical support to ,states and ,indian ,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 disease2 7#d7 pursuant to ,state and ,federal law1 ,states retain primacy and policymaking authority with regard to wildlife management2 7#e7 under policies in effect on the date of enactment of this ,act1 chronic wasting disease remains a systemic threat to cervids2 and 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 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,cervid ,the term cervid means any species within the family ,cervidae4 7#b7 ,chronic wasting disease ,the term chronic wasting disease means the animal disease afflicting cervid 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#c7 ,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 that conducts or is qualified to conduct scientific research on chronic wasting disease4 7#d7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7b7 ,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 shall establish a program 7referred to in this subsection as the program7 under which the ,secretary shall offer to enter into cooperative agreements1 or other legal instruments authorized under section #ajdac7;a77#d7 of the ,animal ,health ,protection ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #hcab7;a77#d771 7referred to in this subsection as covered agreements7 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 covered agreements under the program1 the ,secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that will conduct research on-- 7,a7 7i7 methods and products-- 7,i7 to effectively detect infectious chronic wasting disease prions in live cervids1 cervid excreta1 the environment1 and inorganic surfaces2 and 7,,ii7 to decontaminate those infectious prions2 or 7ii7 testing methods that significantly improve sensitivity and accelerate timelines for test results on nonlive cervids2 7,b7 the long-term suppression or eradication of chronic wasting disease2 7,c7 determination markers for genetic resistance to chronic wasting disease and strategies for using genetic resistance to combat the spread of chronic wasting disease2 7,d7 sustainable cervid harvest management practices-- 7i7 to reduce chronic wasting disease occurrence2 and 7ii7 to prevent or limit spatial spread of chronic wasting disease2 or 7,e7 factors that contribute to local emergence of chronic wasting disease and increased prevalence and distribution of chronic wasting disease1 including mechanisms of disease transmission and effective barriers to transmission4 7#c7 ,amount of agreement ,to the maximum extent practicable1 a covered agreement entered into by the ,secretary with an eligible entity under the program shall be for an amount that is not less than #b percent and not more than #aj percent of the funds appropriated under subsection 7h7 for the applicable fiscal year4 7#d7 ,administrative costs by eligible entities ,an eligible entity that enters into a covered agreement under the program shall use not more than #aj percent of the amount of the covered agreement for administrative costs4 7c7 ,support for ,state efforts ,to manage and control chronic wasting disease 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 shall offer to enter into cooperative agreements1 or other legal instruments authorized under section #ajdac7;a77#d7 of the ,animal ,health ,protection ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #hcab7;a77#d771 with eligible entities described in subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 of subsection 7a77#c7 to provide direct financial assistance to support the efforts of those eligible entities to develop and implement management strategies to address chronic wasting disease within the jurisdiction of the applicable ,state or ,indian ,tribe4 7#b7 ,application ,an eligible entity described in paragraph 7#a7 seeking direct financial assistance under this subsection shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7#c7 ,funding priorities ,in providing direct financial assistance under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall give priority to eligible entities described in that paragraph that have1 with respect to the applicable ,state or ,indian ,tribe of the eligible entity-- 7,a7 a high 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 infections of chronic wasting disease1 with the intent of containing chronic wasting disease in any new area of infection4 7#d7 ,rapid response ,if a ,state or ,indian ,tribe detects1 within the jurisdiction of the ,state or ,indian ,tribe1 chronic wasting disease in a cervid population that was not previously infected1 notwithstanding paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c71 the ,secretary may immediately provide direct financial assistance1 in an amount to be determined by the ,secretary1 to support the efforts of the ,state or ,indian ,tribe1 as applicable1 to immediately control the spread of chronic wasting disease within that cervid population4 7d7 ,public education on chronic wasting disease ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the eligible entities described in subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 of subsection 7a77#c71 organizations representing the farmed cervid industry1 and organizations representing deer hunters1 shall develop and maintain materials based on the latest scientific knowledge to educate the public on chronic wasting disease and techniques to help prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease4 7e7 ,review of herd certification program standards ,not later than #ah months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall publish a notice in the ,federal ,register soliciting public feedback on potential updates and improvements to standards under the chronic wasting disease herd certification program1 with special consideration given to-- 7#a7 minimizing or eliminating the interaction of captive and wild cervids2 7#b7 reviewing and updating indemnity practices1 including the use of live testing1 to ensure the timely and targeted removal of cervids with chronic wasting disease from the landscape2 and 7#c7 increasing participation in the chronic wasting disease herd certification program4 7f7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this section interferes with or otherwise affects the authority of the ,federal ,government1 a ,state1 or an ,indian ,tribe to manage wildlife and livestock on land within the respective jurisdiction1 including managing1 surveying1 and monitoring the incidence of chronic wasting disease4 7g7 ,administrative costs ,of the funds made available under subsection 7h7 for a fiscal year1 the ,secretary may use not more than #aj percent for administrative costs4 7h7 ,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 #bjbh1 to remain available until expended4 7#b7 ,allocation among programs ,of the funds made available under paragraph 7#a71 to the maximum extent practicable1 the ,secretary shall allocate an equal amount to carry out each of subsections 7b7 and 7c74 7#c7 ,set-aside for wildlife agencies ,of the funds used to carry out subsection 7c71 not less than #ge percent shall be used to provide direct financial assistance to eligible entities described in subsection 7a77#c77;,b74 #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