119 HR 2462 RH: Black Vulture Relief Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-10-03 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. 286119th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 2462[Report No. 119–334]IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 27, 2025Mr. Rose (for himself, Mr. Soto, Mr. Rouzer, Mr. Bost, Mr. Messmer, Mr. Barr, Mr. Hern of Oklahoma, Mr. Smith of Missouri, Mr. Perry, Mrs. Bice, Mr. Meuser, Mr. Gooden, Mr. Alford, Mr. Graves, and Mr. Rulli) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural ResourcesOctober 3, 2025Additional sponsors: Mr. Harrigan, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Collins, Mr. Kustoff, Mr. Knott, Mr. Massie, Mr. Cole, Mr. Miller of Ohio, Mr. Yakym, and Mr. Hill of ArkansasOctober 3, 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 27, 2025A BILLTo 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.

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.

October 3, 2025Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed