Bill · H.R. 8195· House(119-HR-8195)
Responsible Cormorant Management and Control Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 4/2/2026
- Last activity
- 9/15/2026 — Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.
- Sponsored by
- Tim Walberg
- Cosponsors
- - 5 - 0
- Introduced
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the ``Responsible Cormorant Management and Control Act of 2026'', directs the Secretary of the Interior to create regional management frameworks for the take of double-crested cormorants. These frameworks must be developed in coordination with Regional Flyway Councils within 180 days of enactment. The frameworks are required to maintain sustainable breeding populations while accounting for the impacts of overabundant populations on various environmental and human factors. The bill identifies specific entities allowed to take these birds, including State and Tribal agencies, hunters, and lake or pond managers. Additionally, the Secretary must conduct population surveys every five years to inform updates to these management frameworks.
Yes· 3 of 5
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?+4
The bill authorizes specific management actions within the National Wildlife Refuge System to control cormorant populations.
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+3
The bill establishes management frameworks to protect fisheries, vegetation, and other bird species from overabundant cormorant populations.
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+3
The bill includes Indian Tribes as entities that may perform management actions and meet management objectives.
The opposite
Does this give the federal government more power?-2
The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to develop and update regional management frameworks.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Empowering Local Management: The bill allows State and Tribal agencies to take specific management actions regarding double-crested cormorants (Section 2(a) and 2(b)(4)).
-
Support for Specific Occupations: The framework identifies entities such as State licensed or otherwise authorized hunters, lake managers, and pond managers as those who may take the birds (Section 2(b)(3)).
-
Environmental and Human Protections: The management frameworks must account for the effects of overabundant populations on fisheries, sensitive vegetation, migratory bird populations, water quality, and human health and safety (Section 2(b)(5)).
-
Protection of Endangered Species: The frameworks must consider the impacts of cormorants on species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Section 2(b)(5)(F)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Constraints on National Wildlife Refuge System: The Secretary must identify management actions within National Wildlife Refuge System units that must still fulfill the primary purposes of those units (Section 2(c)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Public Land Management+4Improves Environmental Protections+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+3Good For Rural Residents+2
- Governance And Ideology
- Increase States Rights+3Increases Federal Power-2
- 9/15/2026
- Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.
- 8/17/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/8/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/12/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/21/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/16/2026
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 4/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/9/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
- 4/2/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Introduced in House
Mike EzellRepublican · Mississippi
Ronny JacksonRepublican · Texas
John JamesRepublican · Michigan
Nicholas LangworthyRepublican · New York
Claudia TenneyRepublican · New York