[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8195 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8195

To require the Secretary of the Interior to develop regional management 
         frameworks for the take of double-crested cormorants.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 2, 2026

 Mr. Walberg introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require the Secretary of the Interior to develop regional management 
         frameworks for the take of double-crested cormorants.

    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 ``Responsible Cormorant Management and 
Control Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. REGIONAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORKS FOR TAKE OF DOUBLE-CRESTED 
              CORMORANTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Secretary, in coordination with the 
applicable Regional Flyway Council, shall develop a regional management 
framework for the take of double-crested cormorants for each region 
covered by a Regional Flyway Council based on existing information.
    (b) Requirements.--Each regional management framework developed 
under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) ensure the breeding population of double-crested 
        cormorants is maintained at a sustainable level--
                    (A) in accordance with the Migratory Bird Treaty 
                Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.); and
                    (B) beginning with the first update required by 
                subsection (e), as informed by the most recent survey 
                carried out under subsection (d);
            (2) include, with respect to double-crested cormorants--
                    (A) allowed methods of take; and
                    (B) allowed time periods of take;
            (3) identify entities that may take double-crested 
        cormorants, which shall include--
                    (A) State and Tribal agencies; and
                    (B) entities licensed or otherwise authorized in a 
                manner the Secretary determines appropriate, which 
                shall include--
                            (i) State licensed or otherwise authorized 
                        hunters;
                            (ii) lake managers; and
                            (iii) pond managers;
            (4) provide for--
                    (A) States and Indian Tribes to take specific 
                management actions with respect to double-crested 
                cormorants in accordance with the regional management 
                framework; and
                    (B) the implementation of management actions 
                identified under subsection (c); and
            (5) account for the effects of an overabundant population 
        of double-crested cormorants on--
                    (A) fisheries;
                    (B) sensitive vegetation;
                    (C) populations of other migratory birds;
                    (D) human health and safety;
                    (E) water quality; and
                    (F) species listed as threatened species or 
                endangered species under section 4 of the Endangered 
                Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533).
    (c) Incorporation of National Wildlife Refuge System.--In 
developing each regional management framework under subsection (a), the 
Secretary, in cooperation with the heads of State and Tribal game and 
fish agencies and the applicable Regional Flyway Council, shall 
identify appropriate management actions that can be taken within units 
of the National Wildlife Refuge System to meet management objectives of 
States, Indian Tribes, the Regional Flyway Councils, and such units 
with respect to double-crested cormorants while fulfilling the primary 
purposes of such units.
    (d) Population Surveys.--Not later than 5 years after the date of 
the enactment of this section and every 5 years thereafter, the 
Secretary, in coordination with the Regional Flyway Councils, shall 
carry out a survey of the population of double-crested cormorants.
    (e) Updates.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the date of 
        the enactment of this section and every 5 years thereafter, the 
        Secretary, in coordination with the applicable Regional Flyway 
        Council, shall review and update each regional management 
        framework developed under subsection (a).
            (2) Incorporation of population surveys.--In reviewing and 
        updating a regional management framework under paragraph (1), 
        the Secretary shall incorporate the results of the most recent 
        survey carried out under subsection (d).
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Double-crested cormorant.--The term ``double-crested 
        cormorant'' means the species Nannopterum auritum.
            (2) Regional flyway council.--The term ``Regional Flyway 
        Council'' means--
                    (A) the Atlantic Flyway Council;
                    (B) the Central Flyway Council;
                    (C) the Mississippi Flyway Council; and
                    (D) the Pacific Flyway Council.
            (3) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
            (4) Lake manager.--The term ``lake manager'' means a person 
        that is licensed or otherwise authorized by a State regulatory 
        agency to manage a private lake.
            (5) Migratory bird.--The term ``migratory bird'' has the 
        meaning given the term ``migratory birds'' in section 11 of the 
        Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 715j).
            (6) Pond manager.--The term ``pond manager'' means a person 
        that is licensed or otherwise authorized by a State regulatory 
        agency to manage a private pond.
            (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United 
        States Fish and Wildlife Service.
            (8) Take.--The term ``take'' has the meaning given the term 
        in section 10.12 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (as 
        in effect on the date of the enactment of this section).
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