119 HR 2293 RH: Cormorant Relief Act of 2025 U.S. House of Representatives 2025-09-15 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.

IBUnion Calendar No. 241119th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 2293[Report No. 119–285]IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 24, 2025Mr. 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 ResourcesSeptember 15, 2025Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printedStrike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italicFor text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 24, 2025A BILLTo 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, 2025Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed