S. 357: Wildlife Disease Emergency Act of 2011

112th Congress · introduced 2011-02-15 · Animals · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 515.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2011-02-15 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 515. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Wildlife Disease Emergency Act of 2011

Plain summary

Wildlife Disease Emergency Act of 2011 - (Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the governor of a potentially affected state, to declare in such state a wildlife disease emergency for a disease that affects wildlife: (1) within the United States; or (2) outside the United States, but with the potential to enter the United States. Requires the Secretary, in making such a declaration, to consider: (1) the level of threat the disease poses to affected wildlife populations; (2) the sufficiency of resources available in the fund established by this Act; (3) the ability of the Department of the Interior and other agencies, tribal governments, and other stakeholders to address and coordinate a response to the disease through other means; and (4) the request of any state governor to make such a declaration. Directs the Secretary, upon making such a declaration, to lead a coordinated response to the emergency. Authorizes the Secretary to implement a grant program to provide grants to state wildlife agencies and Indian tribes to coordinate the response to, and address, such declared emergencies. (Sec. 5) Establishes in the Treasury a Wildlife Disease Emergency Fund, to be administered by the Secretary. Requires the Fund to consist of such amounts as are appropriated to the Fund and that are received as donations, gifts, or contributions. Prohibits amounts in the Fund from being made available for any purpose other than to respond to a declared emergency. Requires the Secretary to report annually to Congress on the operation of the Fund. Requires a separate statement concerning the Fund in the President's annual budget submission to Congress. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary to establish a Wildlife Disease Committee to assist the Secretary in increasing the level of preparedness needed to address emerging wildlife diseases. Requires the Committee to: (1) advise the Secretary on risk assessment, preparation, monitoring, research, and response to wildlife diseases that may significantly impact the health and sustainability of wildlife populations; and (2) as appropriate, draft documents related to such activities. (Sec. 7) Authorizes the Secretary to convene rapid response teams to address any wildlife disease emergency. (Sec. 8) Prohibits anything in this Act from: (1) limiting the Secretary's authority to respond to wildlife disease events that are not declared emergencies; (2) affecting the authority, jurisdiction, or responsibility of the states to manage, control, or regulate fish and resident wildlife under any state law; (3) granting authority to any public agency to acquire private property or conservation easements or otherwise infringe any use of private property; or (4) limiting, repealing, superseding, or modifying any provision of law.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate with amendment(s)), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

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PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Wildlife Disease Emergency Act of 2011

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate with amendment(s))

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ] · 5 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Bernard Sanders (I-VT)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Jurisdiction: The area or the matters a government or court has authority over.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate with amendment(s))
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-112s357.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/112/s>

Record fed-us-cong112-s357 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong112 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong112