After sportsmen and women urged Congress to invest in solutions, spending bill contains new funding dedicated to combatting CWD in wild deer
A House spending bill for federal agriculture, interior, and environmental agencies (H.R. 3305) has passed with amendments that create new dedicated funding to research, test for, and battle chronic wasting disease, a fatal disease discovered in deer and elk populations across more than half the U.S.
Led by Representatives Veasey, Gosar, Kind, and Abraham, an amendment to the House’s Agriculture Appropriations bill will send $15 million to the states to combat the spread of chronic wasting disease in wild deer.
“Chronic wasting disease is a dangerous and contagious condition affecting deer, elk, and moose in 26 states and over 250 counties,” said Representative Marc Veasey (D-Texas). “The disease spreads to new counties and states every year, threatening our wild deer populations rises. State fish and wildlife agencies are doing their best to combat the spread of this disease with the limited resources they have, but they need more support from the federal government to ramp up their efforts and effectively respond to both new and ongoing outbreaks in wild deer populations. That’s why I introduced a bipartisan amendment to dedicate new resources in the fight to contain and eventually eradicate the disease. My amendment designates an additional $12 million to be sent to state fish and wildlife agencies, bringing the total to $15 million, and I was glad to see the it adopted by the House of Representatives.”
Reps. Gosar and Abraham successfully introduced a second amendment that will direct $1.72 million to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to research chronic wasting disease and improve the effectiveness of testing methods.
“Research into chronic wasting disease and enhanced testing methods will help give hunters the confidence they need to continue to harvest wild deer, elk, and moose,” said Representative Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) “I look forward to continuing to address threats posed by CWD in order to conserve resources for sportsmen and protect America’s hunting traditions.”
Together, these amendments allocate a total of $16.72 million to fighting CWD in wild deer. It’s the first time that some portion of funding for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which maintains a certification program for captive deer operations that take precautions against CWD, could be used to benefit wild deer herds.
“This is a major milestone in our effort to combat CWD and preserve our hunting traditions,” said Whit Fosburgh, president and CEO of TRCP. “This new funding will support states in their efforts to keep deer herds healthy. We want to thank House appropriators for taking this first step, and we urge the Senate to prioritize these investments, as well, so Congress can pass legislation that tackles this epidemic head–on.”
The Senate has yet to release its version of the appropriations bill.
This news comes on the heels of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership’s advocacy
push to include increased resources for responding to CWD in the Agriculture Appropriations bill. The TRCP has rallied more than 1,500 sportsmen and women to contact their lawmakers and ask for these investments.
Take action and urge senators to include these investments in their appropriations bills.
1. When the Bill gets to the Senate will Mitch McConnell kill it?
2. Will Trump even look at the Bill? Mr. Trump will always say one thing and do something else?
There needs to be a movement where our elected officials represent the voters. The people get elected and then join group of demagogs running both state and federal governments.
Will our Montana Representatives support this? If not they are not fit to be in Montana!
I cannot support this 1.4 billion if it redirects existing money allocations to fisd, game, and parks funding.
The Republican Senators and Representatives have to step up and support this. What they do or don’t do will send a strong message about what they support and where their real agenda is. It is time for them to act and do the right. thing.
Conservation is of the utmost importance NOW!!! Our wildlife and or water depends on it…
We need to actively pursue recovering wildlife, esp salmon runs, but will we be able to as long as native people gill net and commercial fishing is so rampant?
time to act for conservation like Roosevelt, dingle and many others did
It is a sad time for people who care about conservation. Look, I’m a life long hunter and fisherman, but this situation we have in the congress is disgusting. Fact is (from where I’m sitting) Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump don’t give a rip about the environment. So all of you outdoorsman who own guns and vote for these jerks because they support the 2nd amendment (which I do also) might want to ask yourselves wgat their real interest is. Here’s a hint.$$$
Spot on! Greed is the guiding factor for most of our politicians as they look just short of their noses at everything–“What’s in it for me” thinking must stop.
Would love to see the actual bill in order to see what is actually written. Not that I don’t trust the Trcp, but sometimes they seem to confuse conservation with environmentalism.
Will TRCP start a petition or provide a link allowing us to contact our elected officials?
A great idea. Current situation is unsustainable-jacking up license fees. It’s not enough. And, yes, it won’t be easy given the current unenlightened political circus. those who support this legislation will probably take some punches. Would be good to have a champion, whatever his or her stipe, at the bully pulpit. Not holding my breath. Time to read “In the Arena “—again.
I would think that conservation is one place that we could put politics aside. Unfortunately the previous comments suggest otherwise. I am dissapointed to see this happen. We get enough of this talk everywhere else these days. If this gets to be the norm here I will not continue to support TRCP. I will shift it to other conservation groups. I dont need this
45 and all his cabinet members hate the environment. Their complete goal is greed and they will destroy anything for a fast buck. Republicans are not going to change. If you keep voting republican, this is what you get- filthy air, water and soil. No bees. No clean anything.
Our wildlife needs our protection. Let’s not make this a Trump bashing bandstand. Instead, write our elected officials and let them know the American people are behind this bill.
The partisan bickering is not helpful. How about saying something constructive like “can we start a petition to further this effort” or “what is the best way to individually contact the decision makers”?
How does TRC recommend we make our voices heard in the House and Senate? Can TRC make this easier by making a letter for us to forward and send links to our congressmen and Senators?
we desperately need this… please let me know who I need to contact or what I can do to help make it happen.
It’s time to stop looking for the “easy out.” A simple note to your Member of Congress telling him or her that you support the “Recovering America’s Wildlife Act” will suffice. As a former staff member for a state legislator I will tell you that form letters are not nearly as effective as a short note IN YOUR OWN WORDS. When you simply send on a letter written by some else it shows a lack of commitment and passion. Fight for it!
Good Lord man, let’s use this oppurtunity to bash the president. Why not keep quiet your political opinions and contact state representatives and tell urge them to pass it Thomas Doyle.