119-HR-2293 Journalist Public Summary

Public Summary: H.R. 2293 — Cormorant Relief Act of 2025

Headline Summary: Reinstates and expands a federal depredation order so aquaculture producers—and certain private lake/pond managers in more states—can lethally remove double‑crested cormorants that are eating farmed fish, while updating paperwork and requiring periodic renewal. [1]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — Text - H.R.2293 — Cormorant Relief Act of…

What It Does: The bill directs the Interior Department to reissue the former aquaculture depredation order (50 C.F.R. §21.47, as it existed on Jan. 1, 2016) with changes: add eligible states (including CA, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, MI, MO, NJ, OH, PA, WI, and others the Secretary may designate), extend eligibility to licensed lake and pond managers, modernize terminology and recordkeeping, simplify cross‑references to other federal laws, remove the 2014 expiration date, and require renewal at least every five years. It also states that NEPA and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) still apply. [1]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — Text - H.R.2293 — Cormorant Relief Act of…[3]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — H. Rept. 119-285 — Cormorant Relief Act of…

Why it matters: The original order (created in 1998 and later amended) allowed fish‑farm operators in 13 southern states to control cormorants without applying for individual federal permits; a 2016 court decision vacated both cormorant depredation orders, pushing farms back to case‑by‑case permits. Supporters say reinstating an updated order would reduce losses and red tape for producers; opponents worry about over‑killing a native bird and uncertain fishery benefits. [4]USDA APHIS — USDA APHIS — Depredation Orders for Double‑crested Cormorants[5]U.S. Department of the Interior — DOI OCL — Pending Legislation: Background on…

Who’s For It:

• House sponsors from Mississippi (Rep. Mike Ezell) with bipartisan original cosponsors (Reps. Michael Guest, Bennie Thompson, and Trent Kelly). [6]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — Cosponsors - H.R.2293 | Congress.gov
• Aquaculture groups including the National Aquaculture Association and Catfish Farmers of America say the bill would help farms manage costly bird predation. [7]National Aquaculture Association — National Aquaculture Association — Action al…
• Senate backers promoting similar legislation (e.g., Sens. Katie Britt and Tom Cotton) signal support for restoring broader cormorant control for fish farmers. [8]U.S. Senate (Office of Sen. Katie Britt) — Sen. Katie Britt — Press release: Se…
• The House passed H.R. 2293 on Dec. 9, 2025, under suspension of the rules by voice vote. [2]U.S. House Republican Cloakroom — Republican Cloakroom — Floor schedule/outcome…

Who’s Against It:

• Bird‑conservation groups and seabird scientists argue expanded lethal control risks regional population declines and has mixed evidence of improving fisheries. [9]Audubon — Audubon — Western Cormorants Face ‘Collapse’ Under a Government Plan,…
• Environmental advocates previously sued over cormorant orders; in May 2016 a federal court vacated them for inadequate NEPA review—context many opponents cite today. [5]U.S. Department of the Interior — DOI OCL — Pending Legislation: Background on…
• Some note the Fish & Wildlife Service already created a special state/tribal permit in 2020, questioning whether a broad order is necessary. [10]U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — USFWS — Finalizes New Special Permit for Cormora…

What’s Next: After House passage on December 9, 2025, the bill moves to the Senate. A related Senate measure (S.1255) is already in the Environment and Public Works Committee; if the Senate passes either version, differences would be reconciled before any bill goes to the President. [2]U.S. House Republican Cloakroom — Republican Cloakroom — Floor schedule/outcome…[11]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — All Info (Except Text) — H.R.2293; Related…