Statements On Introduced Bills And Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS -- (Senate - April 26, 2007)

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By Mr. LIEBERMAN (for himself, Mr. Brownback, and Mr. Akaka):

S. 1246. A bill to establish and maintain a wildlife global animal information network for surveillance internationally to combat the growing threat of emerging diseases that involve wild animals, such as bird flu, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, today, Senator Brownback, Senator Akaka, and I are introducing legislation that establishes a wildlife global animal information network for surveillance to enhance preparedness and awareness of emerging infectious diseases.

More than 60 percent of the approximately 1,400 currently known infectious diseases are shared between wildlife and humans. Over the past 30 years we have had many emerging infectious disease outbreaks, including hantavirus, plague, ebola, HIV/AIDS, SARS, and H5N1 influenza. In fact, more than 35 new infectious diseases have emerged in humans since 1980, which means that approximately one new infectious disease in humans has appeared every 8 months. These diseases have resulted in many deaths and billions of dollars in costs.

Millions of wild animals are traded globally and come into contact with humans and dozens of other species, contributing to the introduction of new diseases in humans. There are numerous examples of these spreading viruses that pose significant threats across the globe. For instance, the spreading H5N1 virus, a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strain, is a significant threat to global human health, the global poultry industry, and the global economy more generally. The emerging infectious disease HIV/AIDS, whose origin has been traced back to the human consumption of African nonhuman primates, has had a devastating impact in the developing world, with over 40 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS and 3 million AIDS deaths globally in 2006. Despite the threats that these and future diseases pose, we lack a comprehensive and coordinated approach to monitoring these emerging infectious diseases and the nexus between wildlife, people, and domestic animals.

Our legislation would establish a Wildlife Global Animal Information Network for Surveillance (GAINS). This Wildlife GAINS system would include Federal and State agency partners, multilateral agency partners, conservation organizations with expertise in wildlife monitoring and surveillance, veterinary and medical schools, and other national and international partners. The legislation encourages the establishment of critical public-private partnerships because of the unique strengths and capabilities that NGOs have in developing countries. They will play a key role in assisting developing countries develop much needed surveillance mechanisms and in facilitating the dissemination of critical data to all partners.

USAID has taken a leadership role and already committed $192 million for avian influenza preparedness and response activities in developing countries affected by the H5N1 virus. Congress must support these efforts establishing a comprehensive worldwide wildlife health surveillance system to detect and track emerging infectious diseases.

Wildlife GAINS would be a comprehensive tool to prevent the outbreak and spread of new diseases that have no treatments or cures. We must prevent and detect the next generation of infectious diseases to prevent the pain and suffering that diseases such as HIV/AIDS and H5N1 have caused millions all over the world.

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