U.S. Reps. Green and Ryan continue CWD battle Hearing was held by House subcommittees Thursday morning By Monique Balas News-Chronicle U.S. Reps. Mark Green, R-Green Bay, and Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, took another step forward in procuring federal help to fight chronic wasting disease in the state's deer population. The two testified in a congressional joint hearing before the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health and the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans. "This hearing will put the spotlight on our legislation and help us ensure that the problem of CWD gets the attention and the action it deserves in Washington," Ryan said in a news release. Four witnesses testified, all in favor of the legislation. Witnesses were representatives from the U.S. Geological Survey, Department of Agriculture, Colorado Department of Natural Resources and International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The CWD Support for States Act of 2003 would coordinate resources from several federal agencies to strengthen the battle against the disease, Green said from Washington. "We need a variety of agencies involved in this fight," he said. "Our legislation creates an interagency task force." Agencies that would potentially be involved include the USDA, Fish and Wildlife Service and possibly the Food and Drug Administration. The act would provide grants to states to help fight the disease. Wisconsin is designated in the highest priority for need, since the disease has been found in the wild. Funding could be provided to all states, depending on need and priority level, Green said. Wisconsin could expect about $500,000 in grant aid. "The states are on the front lines of this fight, not Washington, D.C.," Green said. "Usually the Department of Natural Resources in Wisconsin and DNR counterparts around the country are leading efforts. We need to get money out to them as soon as possible." Green hopes Wisconsin will see some money before the fall. "We have to get this moving quickly so that programs can get resources out to states before the next hunting season," he said.