Feingold, Kohl Announce Passage CWD Amendment To Require Federal Plan To Address Disease January 24, 2003 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl announced the inclusion of an amendment in the Senate's fiscal year 2003 Omnibus Appropriations bill requiring the Secretary of Interior to release a plan for assisting states, federal agencies and tribes in managing chronic wasting disease within 90 days. The amendment, introduced by Feingold, was accepted by unanimous consent. It was originally part of chronic wasting disease legislation introduced by Senators Allard (R-CO), Feingold and Kohl in the 107th Congress. "The release of this plan is long overdue," Feingold said. "The administration has continued to drop the ball on chronic wasting disease. The people of Wisconsin deserve to know that the federal government has a coordinated plan to deal with a problem that continues to grow more serious. This amendment legally requires them to take that action." "This provision reflects the immediate threat CWD poses and the need to control its spread without further delay," Kohl said. "Coupled with the CWD funding secured in this omnibus bill, we have a powerful strategy to eradicate chronic wasting disease in Wisconsin and other states across the country." The Departments of Interior and Agriculture have yet to release a plan, to address CWD, that has been in development since April 2001. This plan would coordinate and assist with research, surveillance, disease management, education materials, and funding to combat CWD. Meanwhile, the disease is spreading, and has been detected in two additional states, Illinois and Minnesota, since June 2002.

# # #