Feingold Calls Administration's Handling of CWD Unacceptable Administration Misses Deadline for Releasing a Plan to Deal with CWD May 20, 2003 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold today called for oversight hearings to look into the administration's handling of chronic wasting disease (CWD). The Departments of Agriculture and Interior missed today's deadline for releasing a plan to address CWD. The deadline was established by an amendment Feingold successfully added to the Fiscal Year 2003 Omnibus Appropriations bill. "It is simply unacceptable that the administration has not released a plan that was requested over a year ago," Feingold said. "It is becoming increasingly clear that they do not consider chronic wasting disease to be a priority issue. I have asked for oversight hearings so that the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior can explain to us directly what their plans are to fight CWD." In letters to the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate Agriculture and Energy & Natural Resources committees, Feingold asked for oversight hearings into the lack of response by the administration. The plan was originally requested in April 2002 by Representative Scott McInnis and a draft plan was released in June of 2002. "I write to seek your assistance in conducting oversight of the administration's actions to develop a long term strategy to address chronic wasting disease" the letter read. "Such a strategy is acutely needed, and unacceptably overdue. Specifically, I request that you consider conducting oversight hearings into this matter, and review the need for legislative action."

# # #