IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1177 

Recognizing the need for China to maintain its ban on rhinoceros and tiger 

parts. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 11, 2018 

Mr. MCCAUL (for himself, Mr. ROYCE of California, Mr. CUELLAR, Mr. FORTENBERRY, and Ms. MCCOLLUM) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition 

to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently 

determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the need for China to maintain its ban on 

rhinoceros and tiger parts. 

Whereas wildlife trafficking has more than doubled since 

2007 and is now one of the world’s largest transnational 

crimes with an estimated $20,000,000,000 in illegal profits every year; 

Whereas according to traditional Chinese beliefs, rhinoceros 

horn and tiger bones are thought to have medicinal and 

healing properties; 

Whereas there appears to be little scientific evidence to support traditional claims of the health benefits of consuming rhinoceros horn or tiger bones; 


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•HRES 1177 IH 

Whereas rhinoceros and tigers are at risk of extinction and 

are endangered primarily due to poaching driven by high 

demand for their parts; 

Whereas transnational criminal organizations and terrorist 

groups in foreign countries are often engaged in and 

profiting from poaching and transportation of rhinoceros 

horns across Africa and Asia; 

Whereas transnational criminal organizations and terrorist 

groups engaged in wildlife trafficking also traffic in arms, 

drugs, and people; 

Whereas China’s decision to ban the ivory trade and close 

ivory carving factories in December 2015, which went 

into full effect in December 2017, was a positive and 

commendable decision and a significant step for elephant 

conservation; 

Whereas China’s State Council, recognizing the endangered 

status of this wildlife due to poaching, issued a ban involving the sales, purchase, use, and import of rhinoceros 

horn, tiger bones, and their related products in 1993; 

Whereas, in October 2018, China proposed a directive that 

would allow exceptions to this ban for medical and scientific research; 

Whereas the directive would permit the sale, import, and export of rhinoceros horn and tiger bone classified as cultural relics, pending the authorization of the Ministry of 

Culture and Tourism and the State Administration of 

Cultural Heritage; 

Whereas, on November 12, 2018, China postponed the lifting 

of the ban on rhinoceros horn and tiger bone for medical 

and scientific research due to international pressure, particularly from conservation groups; 


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•HRES 1177 IH 

Whereas China’s consideration of opening the rhinoceros horn 

and tiger bone trade would likely increase the trafficking 

and illicit trade of these animals and would likely increase illegal poaching activity in Africa and Asia; and 

Whereas lifting the ban on the trade could severely endanger 

tigers and rhinoceros leading to extinction: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes China’s postponement of its di3 rective to allow rhinoceros horn and tiger bone for 

4 medical and scientific research, and strongly encour5 ages China to maintain its ban on rhinoceros and 

6 tiger parts; 

7 (2) identifies the need to reduce demand in 

8 Asian markets for illicit wildlife products as well as 

9 work with United States global partners to combat 

10 transnational criminal organizations and prevent 

11 them from obtaining these animal parts and prod12 ucts; 

13 (3) supports ongoing initiatives by the Depart14 ment of State, the United States Agency for Inter15 national Development, the United States Fish and 

16 Wildlife Service, and other relevant United States 

17 Government agencies to combat poaching and wild18 life trafficking and promote efforts to reduce the de19 mand of endangered species; 


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•HRES 1177 IH 

1 (4) recognizes the importance of continued 

2 United States diplomatic engagement to continue to 

3 encourage other nations to shut down any trade of 

4 endangered species; 

5 (5) condemns the illegal killing, sale, or trade in 

6 the parts and product of rhinoceros and tigers from 

7 any source and encourages international enforce8 ment and prosecution of all criminal entities engaged 

9 in and profiting from such activity; 

10 (6) supports the protection of rhinoceros and 

11 tiger populations to prevent extinction; and 

12 (7) condemns the farming of rhinoceros and ti13 gers to meet demand for their body parts and 

14 strongly encourages China and other countries to 

15 phase out such facilities. 

Æ 


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