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. FOR-
TENBERRY, 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 provi-
sions 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 prof-
its 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 sup-
port traditional claims of the health benefits of con-
suming 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 in-
volving 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 sci-
entific research; 
Whereas the directive would permit the sale, import, and ex-
port of rhinoceros horn and tiger bone classified as cul-
tural 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, par-
ticularly 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 in-
crease 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, there-
fore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes China’s postponement of its di-
rective to allow rhinoceros horn and tiger bone for 
medical and scientific research, and strongly encour-
ages China to maintain its ban on rhinoceros and 
tiger parts; 
(2) identifies the need to reduce demand in 
Asian markets for illicit wildlife products as well as 
work with United States global partners to combat 
transnational criminal organizations and prevent 
them from obtaining these animal parts and prod-
ucts; 
(3) supports ongoing initiatives by the Depart-
ment of State, the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development, the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service, and other relevant United States 
Government agencies to combat poaching and wild-
life trafficking and promote efforts to reduce the de-
mand of endangered species; 
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•HRES 1177 IH 
(4) recognizes the importance of continued 
United States diplomatic engagement to continue to 
encourage other nations to shut down any trade of 
endangered species; 
(5) condemns the illegal killing, sale, or trade in 
the parts and product of rhinoceros and tigers from 
any source and encourages international enforce-
ment and prosecution of all criminal entities engaged 
in and profiting from such activity; 
(6) supports the protection of rhinoceros and 
tiger populations to prevent extinction; and 
(7) condemns the farming of rhinoceros and ti-
gers to meet demand for their body parts and 
strongly encourages China and other countries to 
phase out such facilities. 
Æ 
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