A newly introduced bipartisan bill from U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) aims to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD), a contagious, neurological disease that is most often fatal for deer, elk and moose.
“It is imperative we better understand the genetic implications of the disease, so we can develop policies best suited to solve the problem,” Rep. Thompson said on Oct. 20. “I look forward to moving quickly with my colleagues in Congress to do our part in eradicating CWD.”
Rep. Thompson on Oct. 19 signed on as the lead original cosponsor of the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act, H.R. 5608, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI). The bill would support state and tribal efforts in developing and implementing management strategies and fund research into methods to better detect and prevent CWD, according to information provided by Rep. Thompson’s office.
As of August, CWD has been confirmed in 25 states, the information states, and there currently is no known cure for CWD, nor solid information on how the disease is transmitted.
“CWD has been a big problem for the deer populations of Pennsylvania and additional cervid animals, such as elk and moose, throughout the country,” said Rep. Thompson. “This bill was crafted with robust stakeholder support and will prioritize research in the transmission of, resistance to, and diagnosis of CWD.”
H.R. 5608 is supported by several wildlife and sportsmen organizations, including the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the National Wildlife Federation, the National Deer Association, the North American Deer Farmers Association, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and the Mule Deer Foundation, among others.