H.R. 2293 Passed the House Animals

Cormorant Relief Act of 2025

To require the Secretary of the Interior to reissue certain regulations relating to the taking of double-crested cormorants at aquaculture facilities.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4] Introduced March 24, 2025 Cosponsors 3 (2 R, 1 D) Latest action December 10, 2025

Summary

Cormorant Relief Act of 2025
This bill requires the Department of the Interior to reissue the depredation order for double-crested cormorants at aquaculture facilities in certain states. (The previous order was vacated in 2016 by court order.)
Depredation orders allow for the taking (i.e., capturing, killing, dispersing, or transport of the carcass) of a specified species without a permit, generally to reduce damage caused by the species or to protect interests like health or property. Reissuing this order authorizes landowners, operators, tenants, and employees of entities engaged in aquaculture to take double-crested cormorants that are causing or threatening harm at aquaculture facilities and state and federal fish hatcheries.
Interior must reissue the depredation order with updates, including an expansion of (1) the number of states covered by the order, and (2) the entities to whom the order applies (i.e., private lake and pond managers who are licensed by the state).
Under the bill, Interior must renew the depredation order every five years.

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Congress.gov

Actions

  1. Dec 10, 2025 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  2. Dec 9, 2025 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  3. Dec 9, 2025 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5076-5077)
  4. Dec 9, 2025 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2293.
  5. Dec 9, 2025 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5076-5077)
  6. Dec 9, 2025 Mr. Hurd (CO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  7. Sep 15, 2025 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 241.
  8. Sep 15, 2025 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-285.
  9. Jul 15, 2025 Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.
  10. Jul 15, 2025 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  11. Jul 15, 2025 Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
  12. Apr 8, 2025 Subcommittee Hearings Held

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