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H.R. 8195119th CongressIn committeeLatest action Apr 16, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
Official title: Responsible Cormorant Management and Control Act of 2026
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govThe plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
HR 8195 requires Fish and Wildlife Service to issue regional cormorant management plans within 180 days and recount birds every five years.
50-second read · 4 questions answered below
HR 8195 requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to create regional management plans for double-crested cormorants within 180 days of enactment. The plans must define who may remove or kill cormorants, under what conditions, and how many birds may be taken while keeping the population at a sustainable level. The agency must also conduct population counts every five years and revise the plans accordingly.
Plans would cover all four major migratory bird regions, including National Wildlife Refuges, and authorize states, Native American tribes, licensed hunters, and private lake and pond managers to carry out removal. Fish farmers, aquaculture operators, lake managers, and recreational anglers are among those most directly affected.
Large concentrations of cormorants have been linked to pressure on fish populations, damage to wetland vegetation, displacement of other bird species, water quality changes, and potential harm to threatened or endangered species. The bill responds to those documented ecological and economic concerns across freshwater fishery areas.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Subcommittee Hearings Held