Baldwin Introduces Legislation to Combat Wildlife and Livestock Disease Outbreaks

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the Wildlife-Agriculture Disease Prevention Act of 2024, new legislation to increase inter-agency coordination to prevent and mitigate the spread of wildlife diseases, protecting farmers, consumers, and the economy.

“We know that the outbreak and spread of wildlife diseases have severe consequences on our food supply chain, farmers, livestock, and rural economies,” said Senator Baldwin. “We need to work together, at every level, to respond to these diseases and prevent further outbreaks. My legislation will ensure that our federal agencies, states, and tribes have the resources they need to keep our communities safe.”

Three out of every four new or emerging infectious diseases in human populations originate from animals. Most recently, in March 2024, the first reported cow-to-human case of highly pathogenic avian flu (HPIA) was identified after the human encountered herds believed to have been infected by wild birds. Prior HPAI outbreaks have also taken a significant economic toll, with the 2022 avian flu outbreak resulting in economic costs of $3 billion.

The Wildlife-Agriculture Disease Prevention Act of 2024 requires increased inter-agency coordination, as well as greater communication between Federal agencies, States, and Tribes to facilitate more comprehensive and effective responses to zoonotic diseases, helping prevent significant outbreaks. The legislation will create a Wildlife-Agriculture Disease Coordinator with the purpose to increase communication between those agencies on the frontlines of animal and human health, and other relevant federal and state agencies regarding current and emerging wildlife disease outbreaks. The position will be housed within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and more specifically will:

• Establish relationships with relevant Federal agencies, States, and Indian Tribes
• Facilitate information sharing about existing and emerging zoonotic disease outbreaks between States, Tribes, and Federal agencies (including U.S. Department of Agriculture, USFWS, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC))
• Assist States and Tribes in applying for funding to work on wildlife disease issues
• Coordinate between States, including state agencies that work on agriculture, environment, natural resources, and public health
• Share best management practices for zoonotic disease management and prevention
• Report to Congress on necessary resources and response activities for preventing and mitigating wildlife diseases

The legislation is endorsed by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Ducks Unlimited, Izaak Walton League of America, MacFarlane Pheasants Inc., Midwest Dairy Coalition, National Farmers Union, National Milk Producers Federation, National Pork Producers Council, National Turkey Federation, National Wild Turkey Federation, North American Gamebird Association, Wisconsin Farmers Union, Wisconsin Game Preserve Association, Wisconsin Pork Producers Association, Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association, and University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine.

“USDA and its federal partners do critical work to help producers prevent and respond to zoonotic animal diseases,” said Gregg Doud, President and CEO, National Milk Producers Federation. “We thank Sen. Baldwin for her legislation to better empower agencies to coordinate and work together for the betterment of public health.”

“As wildlife and livestock disease outbreaks occur, it’s imperative that leaders in Wisconsin and D.C. address these issues head-on. Wisconsin Farmers Union applauds Senator Tammy Baldwin for taking steps to increase biosecurity in the face of outbreaks impacting our agriculture community and food system through the Wildlife Disease Bill. The creation of an Agriculture-Wildlife Disease Coordinator would enhance interagency communication, which is vital for effectively and efficiently securing both the commercial food supply and the health of animals and humans during outbreaks like the current highly pathogenic avian influenza,” said Darin Von Ruden, Wisconsin Farmers Union President.

 “With the recent outbreak of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in dairy herds, it became clear that the number of federal and state agencies involved in responding to the outbreak was daunting,” said Steve Etka, Policy Director, Midwest Dairy Coalition. “The Midwest Dairy Coalition greatly appreciates Senator Baldwin’s leadership in helping to facilitate the coordination between these agencies, and in introducing legislation to formalize inter-agency coordination during emerging wild and domesticated animal disease outbreaks.” 

“State fish and wildlife agencies are the frontline of defense to combat the spread of wildlife diseases and increased coordination across jurisdictions is critical,” said Paul Johansen, Chair of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Fish and Wildlife Health Committee and Wildlife Resources Section Chief for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. “We thank Senator Baldwin for her leadership to establish new channels of communication, and we look forward to strengthening existing efforts with Federal and Tribal agencies to establish the permanent frameworks needed to address these threats.”

“The National Wild Turkey Federation applauds the effort to tackle this ever-growing concern held by the wildlife conservation and hunting communities, ranchers/farmers and public health professionals. The spread of zoonotic and wildlife diseases between wild and domesticated animals and humans are serious threats to the health and safety of our country’s citizens, our natural resources and our food supply,” said Kurt Dyroff, Co-CEO, National Wild Turkey Federation.

“Since 2015, the U.S. turkey Industry has faced the devastating impacts of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Increased research, education and communication are vital to defeating the ongoing HPAI outbreak that began in February of 2022. The National Turkey Federation thanks Sen. Baldwin for authoring this piece of legislation, which will strengthen interagency collaboration necessary to address disease animal outbreaks, such as HPAI, and provide a more comprehensive response to assist turkey farmers across the country working around the clock to protect their flocks from this deadly virus,” said the National Turkey Federation.

A one pager on the legislation can be found here, and the bill text can be found here.

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