118 HR 1437 RH: Black Vulture Relief Act of 2024 U.S. House of Representatives 2024-12-10 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IB Union Calendar No. 679 118th CONGRESS2d Session H. R. 1437 [Report No. 118–832] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 8, 2023 Mr. Rose (for himself and Mr. Soto) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources December 10, 2024 Additional sponsors: Mr. Pfluger, Mr. Barr, Mr. Comer, Mr. Brecheen, Mr. Balderson, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Womack, Mr. Miller of Ohio, Mr. Hern, Mr. Allen, Mr. Smith of Missouri, Mr. Perry, Mrs. Bice, Mr. Bergman, Mr. Dunn of Florida, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Ms. Mace, Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Ogles, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Wenstrup, Mrs. Harshbarger, Mr. Rouzer, Mr. Smucker, Mr. Meuser, Mr. Kustoff, Mr. Williams of Texas, Mr. Pence, Mr. Gooden of Texas, Mr. Steube, Mr. Lucas, Ms. Hageman, Mr. Alford, Mr. Bost, Mr. Bucshon, Mr. Kelly of Mississippi, Mr. Burchett, and Mr. Graves of Missouri December 10, 2024 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 8, 2023 A BILL To authorize livestock producers and their employees to take black vultures in order to prevent death, injury, or destruction to livestock, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Black Vulture Relief Act of 2024.

2.

Authorization for livestock producers and their employees to take certain black vultures

(a)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Black vulture

The term black vulture means a bird of the species Coragyps atratus. (2)

Covered person

The term covered person means— (A)a livestock producer; or (B)an employee of a livestock producer when the employee is actively engaged in livestock production. (3)

Director

The term Director means the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. (4)

Livestock

The term livestock has the meaning given the term in section 602 of the Emergency Livestock Feed Assistance Act of 1988 (7 U.S.C. 1471). (5)

Livestock producer

The term livestock producer has the meaning given the term in section 602 of the Emergency Livestock Feed Assistance Act of 1988 (7 U.S.C. 1471). (6)

Take

The term take means— (A)to capture, kill, or disperse a black vulture; or (B)to transport a black vulture carcass. (b)

Authorization

(1)

In general

Subject to paragraph (2), notwithstanding the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.), a covered person may— (A)take or attempt to take a black vulture that is causing, or that the covered person has a reasonable belief will cause, death, injury, or destruction to livestock; or (B)in the course of taking or attempting to take a black vulture described in subparagraph (A), cause injury to the black vulture. (2)

Prohibition

A covered person may not take or attempt to take a black vulture through the use of poison. (c)

Reports

(1)

In general

Not later than January 31 of each year, a covered person that takes a black vulture in accordance with subsection (b) in the preceding 12-month period shall complete and submit to the appropriate United States Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office (as determined by the geographic jurisdictions described in section 2.2 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)) an annual report using the form developed by the Director under subsection (d). (2)

Clarification

A covered person shall not be required to submit a report under paragraph (1) until after the date on which the Director develops and makes available the reporting form under subsection (d). (d)

Reporting forms

(1)

In general

Subject to paragraph (2), not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall develop and make available on the website of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service a reporting form the Director determines appropriate for the purposes of accepting reports under subsection (c). (2)

Format

The form developed and made available under paragraph (1) may not be more onerous to complete than similar forms required for permitted take under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.) as of the date of enactment of this Act.

December 10, 2024 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed