H.R. 2293: Cormorant Relief Act of 2025
A House bill (H.R.) in the 119th U.S. Congress.
Overview
| Congress | 119th U.S. Congress (2025–2026) |
|---|---|
| Type | House bill (H.R.) |
| Originating chamber | House |
| Introduced | 2025-03-24 |
| Sponsor | Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4] |
| Policy area | Animals |
| Cosponsors | 3 |
| Latest action | 2025-12-10 — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. |
| Last updated | 2026-07-13 |
Summary
Official summary (Reported to House, 2025-09-15):
Cormorant Relief Act of 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).
Under the bill, Interior must renew the depredation order every five years.
Cosponsors (3)
| Name | Party / state |
|---|---|
| Michael Guest | R MS (original cosponsor) 2025-03-24 |
| Bennie G. Thompson | D MS (original cosponsor) 2025-03-24 |
| Trent Kelly | R MS (original cosponsor) 2025-03-24 |
Full text & official record
The official bill text, section-by-section summary, amendments, committee reports, and the complete legislative timeline for H.R. 2293 are published by Congress on congress.gov.
View H.R. 2293 on congress.gov →
Frequently asked questions
What is H.R. 2293?
H.R. 2293 is a House bill (H.R.) introduced in the 119th U.S. Congress, originating in the House. Official title: Cormorant Relief Act of 2025.
Where can I read the full bill text?
The full text, cosponsors, amendments, and legislative status for H.R. 2293 are available on congress.gov.
Bill data: congress.gov API (official congressional records).