WC Wisconsin News

A bipartisan bill that was spearheaded by Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) directed at slowing the spread of and finding a cure for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has passed the House.

Kind celebrated the bill on Twitter and said that the law would ultimately help the state’s outdoor economy.

“Proud to announce that my bill, the CWD Research & Management Act, just PASSED the House with bipartisan support. This bill will help Wisconsin’s deer herds, and in turn our outdoor economy and traditions, from the threat of CWD,” he wrote.  

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reports that CWD can impact deer, moose, elk and caribou, and once it infects the animal’s nervous system, it is always fatal. The department has kept records on the disease among the deer population in 1999 and recorded its first positive cases in 2002.

Kind (D-WI) was joined by Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) in crafting the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act to support research into exposure and prevention of CWD, along with instituting management strategies, according to a press release.

The disease has been found in 25 states throughout the nation with researchers still not sure how the disease is transmitted and there is no cure.

“As an avid hunter, I know how important it is to maintain a healthy deer herd in Wisconsin so we can protect our outdoor traditions and economy,” Kind said in a press release. “CWD is a serious threat to our deer herds, and we need all hands on deck to combat this disease. That’s why I’m proud to team up with my colleague Rep. Thompson and introduce this bipartisan bill that brings scientists, local officials and hunters to the table to help manage and prevent the spread of CWD.” 

Hunting is an important contributor to the state’s economy, resulting in $1 billion in salaries and wages, along with maintaining over 34,000 jobs, according to Hunting in Wisconsin.