Cormorant Relief Act of 2025
Introduced Mar 24, 2025 by Rep. Mike Ezell
The House passed it. The Senate has to pass it before it can reach the President.
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).
Under the bill, Interior must renew the depredation order every five years.
Summary by the Congressional Research Service.
No recorded roll-call vote on this bill — it may have passed by voice vote or unanimous consent, which don't record individual votes.
- Dec 10, 2025Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- Dec 9, 2025Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Dec 9, 2025On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5076-5077)
- 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)
- Dec 9, 2025DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2293.
- Dec 9, 2025Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5076-5077)
- Dec 9, 2025Mr. Hurd (CO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Sep 15, 2025Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 241.
- Sep 15, 2025Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-285.
- Jul 15, 2025Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.
- Jul 15, 2025Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Jul 15, 2025Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
- Apr 8, 2025Subcommittee Hearings Held
- Apr 1, 2025Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
- Mar 24, 2025Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Mar 24, 2025Introduced in House