Cormorant Relief Act of 2025

Bill: 119-hr-2293
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4]
Introduced: 2025-03-24
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alabama

Aquaculture

Arkansas

Birds

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kentucky

Lakes and rivers

Louisiana

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

New Jersey

North Carolina

Ohio

Oklahoma

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Wisconsin
Latest action: action_date: 2025-09-15
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 241.

Summaries:

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 241 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2293 [Report No. 119–285] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 24, 2025 Mr. Ezell (for himself, Mr. Guest , Mr. Thompson of Mississippi , and Mr. Kelly of Mississippi ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources September 15, 2025 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 24, 2025 A BILL To require the Secretary of the Interior to reissue certain regulations relating to the taking of double-crested cormorants at aquaculture facilities.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Cormorant Relief Act of 2025 . 2. Regulations relating to taking of double-crested cormorants at aquaculture facilities (a) In general The Secretary shall reissue the original depredation order in accordance with subsection (b). (b) Requirements The depredation order reissued under subsection (a) shall be the same as the original depredation order, except that the depredation order reissued under subsection (a) shall— (1) apply to— (A) each of the States of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin and any other State or territory of the United States the Secretary determines appropriate in addition to and in the same manner as each of the States to which the original depredation order applied; and (B) lake managers and pond managers in addition to and in the same manner as each of the entities to which the original depredation order applied; (2) incorporate modern terminology; (3) simplify the provisions contained in the original depredation order related to compliance with other Federal law; (4) modernize the recordkeeping requirements contained in the original depredation order; and (5) remove the June 30, 2014, expiration date contained in the original depredation order. (c) Renewal Not less than once every 5 years after the date on which the Secretary reissues the original depredation order under subsection (a), the Secretary shall renew the depredation order reissued under subsection (a). (d) Rule of construction Nothing in this Act may be construed to waive the obligation of the Secretary to comply with the— (1) National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ); or (2) Migratory Bird Treaty Act ( 16 U.S.C. 703 et seq. ). (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Lake manager The term lake manager means a person that is licensed by a State regulatory agency to manage a private lake. (2) Original depredation order The term original depredation order means the depredation order for double-crested cormorants at aquaculture facilities contained in section 21.47 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 1, 2016). (3) Pond manager The term pond manager means a person that is licensed by a State regulatory agency to manage a private pond. (4) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

September 15, 2025 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2293 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 24, 2025 Mr. Ezell (for himself, Mr. Guest , Mr. Thompson of Mississippi , and Mr. Kelly of Mississippi ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To require the Secretary of the Interior to reissue certain regulations relating to the taking of double-crested cormorants at aquaculture facilities.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Cormorant Relief Act of 2025 . 2. Regulations relating to taking of double-crested cormorants at aquaculture facilities (a) In general The Secretary shall reissue the original depredation order in accordance with subsection (b). (b) Requirements The depredation order reissued under subsection (a) shall be the same as the original depredation order, except that the depredation order reissued under subsection (a)— (1) shall apply to each of the States of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin in addition to and in the same manner as each of the States to which the original depredation order applied; and (2) shall apply to lake managers and pond managers in addition to and in the same manner as each of the entities to which the original depredation order applied. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Lake manager The term lake manager means a person that is licensed by a State regulatory agency to manage a private lake. (2) Original depredation order The term original depredation order means the depredation order for double-crested cormorants at aquaculture facilities contained in section 21.47 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 1, 2016). (3) Pond manager The term pond manager means a person that is licensed by a State regulatory agency to manage a private pond. (4) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.