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119th Congress Animals

H.R. 2293: Cormorant Relief Act of 2025

Passed HouseDec 9, 2025

  1. Introduced (completed)Mar 24, 2025
  2. Passed House (completed)Dec 9, 2025
  3. Passed Senate (not reached)
  4. To the President (not reached)
  5. Became law (not reached)

Summary

Reported to House, Sep 15, 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).

Read the full summary

Under the bill, Interior must renew the depredation order every five years.

Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Roll calls

0 votes on this bill

No roll call votes have been held on this bill.

Amendments

0 offered

No amendments were offered to this bill.

Cosponsors

3

Bipartisan support.

Who scored on this bill

80 points earned
  1. 1Mike Ezell R-MS SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced, marked up, reported, passed House5 events+68
  2. 2Michael Guest R-MSCosponsored; cosponsored bill passed2 events+4
  3. 2Trent Kelly R-MSCosponsored; cosponsored bill passed2 events+4
  4. 2Bennie Thompson D-MSCosponsored; cosponsored bill passed2 events+4
See all scorers and every scoring event

Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.

Other bills by Mike Ezell

History

  1. Dec 9, 2025Passed the House by voice vote.
  2. Mar 24, 2025Introduced in the House by Mike Ezell.
Show the full action history (16 actions)
  1. Dec 10, 2025Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  2. Dec 9, 2025Mr. Hurd (CO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  3. Dec 9, 2025Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5076-5077)
  4. Dec 9, 2025DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2293.
  5. Dec 9, 2025Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5076-5077)
  6. Dec 9, 2025On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5076-5077)
  7. Dec 9, 2025Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  8. Sep 15, 2025Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-285.
  9. Sep 15, 2025Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 241.
  10. Jul 15, 2025Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
  11. Jul 15, 2025Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  12. Jul 15, 2025Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.
  13. Apr 8, 2025Subcommittee Hearings Held
  14. Apr 1, 2025Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
  15. Mar 24, 2025Introduced in House
  16. Mar 24, 2025Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.