,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ddea ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #cj1 #bjbf,ms4 ,baldwin introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to support ,federal1 ,state1 and ,tribal coordination and management efforts relating to wildlife disease and zoonotic disease surveillance and ongoing and potential wildlife disease and zoonotic disease outbreaks1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,wildlife ,health ,coordination and ,zoonotic ,disease ,prevention ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 zoonotic diseases are a significant threat to humans1 livestock1 domestic animals1 and wildlife1 which is evidenced by the fact that-- 7,a7 more than #f out of every #aj known infectious diseases in human populations originated in animals2 and 7,b7 #c out of every #d new or emerging infectious diseases in human populations originate from animals2 7#b7 zoonotic diseases are capable of transmitting between animal populations1 including wildlife1 livestock1 and domestic animals1 and human populations2 7#c7 the majority of recent emerging and transboundary infectious diseases have originated in wildlife1 such as the ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak since #bjbb2 7#d7 zoonotic disease spillover events are occurring more frequently1 particularly due to globalization and increased interactions between human and animal populations2 7#e7 risk exposure to zoonotic diseases across human populations can vary1 with rural and agricultural communities and communities without healthcare experiencing increased vulnerability2 7#f7 many zoonotic diseases of concern originate in wildlife and livestock1 which can be highly transmissible and spill over into humans1 domestic animals1 and back into wildlife and livestock1 including-- 7,a7 highly pathogenic avian influenza spreading among poultry and wild birds to humans1 dairy cattle1 cats1 and wild mammals1 among others2 7,b7 chronic wasting disease transmissions between wild and captive deer and elk2 and 7,c7 bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis between ruminants and wildlife1 which are also capable of infecting humans2 7#g7 outbreaks of diseases in wildlife and livestock1 particularly those with zoonotic potential1 have significant adverse effects on the ,united ,states economy1 with the ongoing #bjbb avian influenza outbreak resulting in the ,department of ,agriculture spending1 as of ,february #bjbe1 over #b1ejj1jjj1jjj in indemnity payments2 7#h7 outbreaks of zoonotic diseases pose a significant public health threat and may lead to a domestic or global public health emergency2 7#i7 the ,department of the ,interior1 ,department of ,agriculture1 ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 and ,department of ,homeland ,security play distinct but complementary roles in the prevention1 detection1 control1 and response to zoonotic diseases that impact wildlife1 livestock and domestic animals1 and humans2 7#aj7 the ,department of the ,interior has a responsibility to protect and manage ,federal trust species1 including by monitoring wildlife populations and performing surveillance for emerging wildlife diseases1 including diseases with zoonotic potential2 7#aa7 the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service is responsible for disease surveillance1 response1 and management of diseases that threaten wildlife and other animal populations and humans2 7#ab7 ,state fish and wildlife agencies exercise primary statutory authority over the management of fish and wildlife as public trust resources within their borders2 7#ac7 the ,department of ,agriculture is primarily responsible for safeguarding the health of livestock1 developing and conducting monitoring and surveillance for livestock diseases1 preventing the spread of pests and diseases that pose a threat to the agricultural industry1 and conducting wildlife disease research and implementing a ,national ,wildlife ,disease ,program that focuses on wildlife disease surveillance2 7#ad7 the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention is the leading public health agency responsible for-- 7,a7 monitoring and responding to human health threats posed by wildlife diseases and zoonotic diseases2 and 7,b7 conducting surveillance and research and providing guidance to prevent and control the spread of zoonotic diseases to and among humans2 7#ae7 the ,department of ,homeland ,security is primarily responsible for securing borders to prevent the introduction of wildlife diseases and zoonotic diseases2 7#af7 increased coordination and collaboration between ,federal1 ,state1 and ,tribal agencies with respect to wildlife disease and zoonotic disease efforts is necessary to adequately monitor and respond to ongoing and potential disease outbreaks1 especially outbreaks that pose public health threats2 7#ag7 there is critical need to support existing ,federal1 ,state1 and ,tribal coordination and management efforts relating to wildlife disease and zoonotic disease early detection1 surveillance1 and research and management2 7#ah7 greater permanence for ,wildlife ,health ,coordinators as intermediaries between the ,department of ,agriculture1 the ,department of the ,interior1 ,state fish and wildlife agencies1 and the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention would facilitate communication1 information sharing1 and coordinated efforts to prevent1 detect1 and respond to wildlife diseases and zoonotic diseases2 7#ai7 ,wildlife ,health ,coordinators help address ,state agency capacity nationally1 including the interagency ,national ,fish and ,wildlife ,health ,initiative with membership from the ,department of ,agriculture and ,department of the ,interior and ,tribal and ,state representatives2 and 7#bj7 coordinated efforts described in paragraphs 7#ah7 and 7#ai7 are essential to protect public health1 wildlife populations1 and agricultural interests from the impacts of ongoing and emerging infectious disease threats4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,indian tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#b7 ,livestock ,the term livestock has the meaning given the term in section #ajdjc of the ,animal ,health ,protection ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #hcjb74 7#c7 ,program ,the term ,program means the ,wildlife ,health ,coordination and ,zoonotic ,disease ,program established by section #d7;a74 7#d7 ,wildlife health coordinator ,the term ,wildlife ,health ,coordinator means an individual appointed to a position described in section #d7;c77#a74 7#e7 ,wildlife disease ,the term wildlife disease means any infectious disease originating in wildlife that can be transmitted1 directly or indirectly1 from an infected animal1 host or vector1 parasitic insects1 inanimate source1 or any other source to non-human animals1 including wildlife1 livestock1 and domestic animals4 7#f7 ,zoonotic disease 7,a7 ,in general ,the term zoonotic disease means any disease that is transmissible between animals and humans4 7,b7 ,inclusion ,the term zoonotic disease includes any wildlife disease that can be transmitted between animals and humans4 #d4 ,wildlife ,health ,coordinators 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established within the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service a program1 to be known as the ,wildlife ,health ,coordination and ,zoonotic ,disease ,program1 to be jointly administered by the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service and the ,administrator of the ,animal and ,plant ,health ,inspection ,service1 to serve as a liaison between the ,department of the ,interior1 the ,department of ,agriculture1 the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 the ,department of ,homeland ,security1 and other relevant ,federal1 ,state1 and ,tribal agencies1 as determined necessary by the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service and the ,administrator of the ,animal and ,plant ,health ,inspection ,service4 7b7 ,purposes ,the purposes of the ,program are-- 7#a7 to improve coordination among ,federal1 ,state1 and ,tribal partners on wildlife health issues and wildlife diseases1 particularly diseases that have zoonotic potential2 and 7#b7 to support communication1 planning1 and capacity building efforts to address emerging and ongoing national1 ,state1 and regional wildlife health concerns4 7c7 ,wildlife health coordinators 7#a7 ,positions ,there are established in the ,program the following positions1 to be appointed in accordance with paragraph 7#b73 7,a7 #a ,national ,wildlife ,health ,coordinator4 7,b7 #a ,tribal ,wildlife ,health ,coordinator4 7,c7 #d ,regional ,wildlife ,health ,coordinators4 7#b7 ,appointments ,the ,wildlife ,health ,coordinators shall be appointed in accordance with the following1 using amounts made available through grants1 contracts1 and cooperative agreements provided with amounts made available to carry out this section3 7,a7 ,the position of ,national ,wildlife ,health ,coordinator described in paragraph 7#a77;,a7 shall be appointed by the ,association of ,fish and ,wildlife ,agencies4 7,b7 ,the position of ,tribal ,wildlife ,health ,coordinator described in paragraph 7#a77;,b7 shall be appointed by the ,native ,american ,fish and ,wildlife ,society4 7,c7 ,the #d positions of ,regional ,wildlife ,health ,coordinators described in paragraph 7#a77;,c7 shall be appointed by each of-- 7i7 the ,western ,association of ,fish and ,wildlife ,agencies2 7ii7 the ,midwest ,association of ,fish and ,wildlife ,agencies2 7iii7 the ,northeast ,association of ,fish and ,wildlife ,agencies2 and 7iv7 the ,southeastern ,association of ,fish and ,wildlife ,agencies4 7#c7 ,regions ,the ,regional ,wildlife ,health ,coordinators appointed under paragraph 7#b77;,c7 shall-- 7,a7 serve #d distinct regions in the ,united ,states1 including the ,northeast1 ,southeast1 ,midwest1 and ,west1 which shall be defined as each region represented by the ,regional ,associations described in clauses 7i7 through 7iv7 of that paragraph2 and 7,b7 collaborate across those regions for unified work4 7#d7 ,qualifications ,a ,wildlife ,health ,coordinator shall have expertise in wildlife health1 veterinary science and medicine1 epidemiology1 or another related field4 7#e7 ,duties ,a ,wildlife ,health ,coordinator shall-- 7,a7 establish relationships with relevant ,federal1 ,state1 and ,tribal agencies to carry out the purposes of this ,act2 7,b7 facilitate information sharing about existing and emerging wildlife diseases1 including disease threats to livestock and domestic animals1 and zoonotic disease outbreaks or emerging disease threats between ,states1 including ,state departments of agriculture1 environment1 natural resources1 fish and wildlife1 and public health and ,state animal health officials1 ,indian ,tribes1 the ,national ,animal ,health ,laboratory ,network1 the ,national ,wildlife ,health ,center of the ,united ,states ,geological ,survey1 the ,department of ,agriculture1 the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service1 the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 the ,department of ,homeland ,security1 and other relevant ,federal agencies1 as determined by the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service and the ,administrator of the ,animal and ,plant ,health ,inspection ,service2 7,c7 assist ,states and ,indian ,tribes in accessing resources1 including applying for funding1 to work on wildlife health and zoonotic disease issues1 including diseases-- 7i7 with potential to transmit between wildlife and livestock or domestic animals1 especially in areas where wildlife has frequent contact with livestock and domestic animal populations2 and 7ii7 with zoonotic potential2 7,d7 coordinate-- 7i7 between ,states1 including ,state departments of agriculture1 environment1 natural resources1 fish and wildlife1 and public health and ,state animal health officials1 and ,federal agencies2 and 7ii7 with other relevant entities engaged in wildlife disease and zoonotic disease testing1 research1 monitoring1 surveillance1 and management activities1 including entities convened by the ,association of ,fish and ,wildlife ,agencies2 7,e7 develop and share best management practices relating to wildlife health threats and zoonotic diseases prepared by the ,department of ,agriculture1 the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service1 the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 and ,state and ,tribal agencies between those ,federal agencies and ,state and ,tribal agencies1 including ,state departments of agriculture1 environment1 natural resources1 fish and wildlife1 and public health and ,state animal health officials2 and 7,f7 submit to ,congress a report on recommendations for improving interagency coordination and additional resources necessary to address and prevent wildlife diseases of concern and zoonotic disease outbreaks1 particularly diseases that threaten public health4 7#f7 ,best management practices ,best management practices developed and shared under paragraph 7#e77;,e7 may include voluntary guidance relating to the humane dispatch of animals in the field1 disease surveillance and monitoring techniques1 biosecurity and biosafety measures1 public education1 and other information1 as jointly determined necessary by the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service and the ,administrator of the ,animal and ,plant ,health ,inspection ,service4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #ijj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbg and each fiscal year thereafter4