Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Wildlife Health Coordination and Zoonotic Disease Prevention Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill establishes the Wildlife Health Coordination and Zoonotic Disease Program within the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The program is designed to be jointly administered by the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. It creates specific roles for a National Wildlife Health Coordinator, a Tribal Wildlife Health Coordinator, and four Regional Wildlife Health Coordinators. These coordinators will act as liaisons between various Federal, State, and Tribal agencies to manage wildlife and zoonotic disease threats. The goal is to improve coordination, communication, and capacity building regarding disease outbreaks. The act also authorizes annual appropriations to support these efforts.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +5
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill creates a specific Tribal Wildlife Health Coordinator position to assist Indian Tribes with resources and disease management.
- Scored +5
Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak?
The bill strengthens the ability to detect and respond to zoonotic disease outbreaks that could lead to public health emergencies.
- Scored +4
Would farmers be better off under this?
Improved coordination helps protect livestock and the agricultural industry from zoonotic disease outbreaks.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Disease Coordination: The program aims to improve coordination among Federal, State, and Tribal partners regarding wildlife health issues and diseases with zoonotic potential (Section 4(b)(1)).
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Enhanced Communication and Planning: The bill seeks to support communication, planning, and capacity building to address national, State, and regional wildlife health concerns (Section 4(b)(2)).
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Support for State and Tribal Resource Access: Wildlife Health Coordinators are tasked with assisting States and Indian Tribes in accessing resources and applying for funding to address wildlife health and zoonotic disease issues (Section 4(c)(5)(C)).
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Sharing of Best Management Practices: Coordinators will develop and share best management practices, which may include guidance on disease surveillance, monitoring techniques, and public education (Section 4(c)(5)(E) and Section 4(c)(6)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill creates a specific Tribal Wildlife Health Coordinator position to assist Indian Tribes with resources and disease management. Would farmers be better off under this? — Improved coordination helps protect livestock and the agricultural industry from zoonotic disease outbreaks. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill addresses vulnerabilities in rural communities regarding zoonotic disease exposure. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill notes that zoonotic disease risks can disproportionately affect communities with limited healthcare access.
- Healthcare
- Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak? — The bill strengthens the ability to detect and respond to zoonotic disease outbreaks that could lead to public health emergencies.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — By coordinating responses to zoonotic diseases, the bill aims to prevent significant adverse economic effects caused by outbreaks. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill establishes several new coordinator positions within the Wildlife Health Coordination and Zoonotic Disease Program.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The program enhances the management and monitoring of wildlife populations and their health.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this tighten control of the border? — The bill mentions the role of the Department of Homeland Security in securing borders to prevent the introduction of wildlife diseases. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Addressing zoonotic diseases may help mitigate economic shocks to vulnerable agricultural and rural communities.
- 6/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/30/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- Introduced in Senate
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado