[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2293 Engrossed in House (EH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2293

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


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

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Cormorant Relief Act of 2025''.

SEC. 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.

            Passed the House of Representatives December 9, 2025.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.
119th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                               H. R. 2293

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

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