April 2, 2025
Mr. Cotton (for himself, Mr. Tuberville, Mrs. Britt, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, and Mr. Wicker) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
To require the Secretary of the Interior to reissue certain regulations relating to the taking of double-crested cormorants at aquaculture facilities, and for other purposes.
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
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Sec. 2. Regulations relating to taking of double-crested cormorants at aquaculture facilities
(a) 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.
(b) Reissuance required
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall reissue the original depredation order in accordance with subsection (c).
(c) Requirements
The depredation order reissued under subsection (b) shall be the same as the original depredation order, except that the depredation order reissued under that subsection shall apply—
(1)
to each of the States of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin in addition to, and in the same manner as, each of the States to which the original depredation order applied; and
(2)
to 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.