The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies supports the
introduction the Chronic Wasting Disease Management Act of 2017 (H.R. 4454).
This legislation would authorize critical funding to state and tribal agencies
responsible for wildlife management to implement surveillance, monitoring and
management strategies to address Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Representatives
Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Representative Ron Kind (D-WI) introduced the
legislation on Tuesday, November 21, 2017.
“Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurological disease
that affects members of the deer family, and may be one of the biggest
challenges in modern wildlife conservation history,” stated Virgil Moore,
President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Director of
Idaho Fish and Game. “This legislative package, if passed, will move forward
and strengthen state and tribal chronic wasting disease management strategies
by providing critical funding to help protect our nation’s wildlife.”
“The Association strongly supports this important
legislation,” said Executive Director Ron Regan. “The state fish and wildlife
agencies stand ready to work cooperatively with their state, federal and other
conservation partners to address this serious wildlife health issue.”
Specifically, the CWD Management Act will:
- Authorize critical funding to state and tribal agencies responsible for wildlife management to implement management strategies to address CWD.
- Direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make grants to expand and accelerate applied research on CWD.
- Directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Interior to work cooperatively with the states to conduct research and implement state CWD response plans to reduce the spread and prevalence of the disease.
Check out AFWA's press release here.
