A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation on February 7 that authorizes a special resource study to determine how chronic wasting disease (CWD) spreads and how it could be prevented in wild cervids. The Chronic Wasting Disease Transmission in Cervidae Study Act, S. 382, is being led by Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) along with Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Doug Jones (D-AL), as well as 25 additional cosponsors from both parties; Congressman Ralph Abraham (R-AL) introduced the companion bill, H.R. 837, in the house with 14 bipartisan cosponsors. The legislation requires the Secretaries of Agriculture and of the Interior to work with the National Academy of Sciences to identify the pathways and mechanisms for transmission of the disease, the infection rates and frequency for each pathway, anthropogenic and environmental factors contributing to CWD emergence events, geographic patterns for disease distribution, and significant gaps in current scientific knowledge about transmission.

“Wyoming’s deer, elk and moose populations have been negatively impacted by chronic wasting disease for decades,” said Barrasso in a statement. “Now, 26 states have detected chronic wasting disease and new cases arise each day. We need to know more about how this disease spreads and which areas are most at risk. Our bill gives wildlife managers the tools they need to research and identify exactly where chronic wasting disease is most prominent and how we can better prevent it. It’s a critical first step to addressing this debilitating disease and keeping our wildlife herds healthy.”