Responsible Cormorant Management and Control Act of 2026

This bill would require the Secretary of the Interior, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to issue regulations within 1 year for regional plans to manage double-crested cormorants, working with the four Regional Flyway Councils. Each plan would set allowed methods and time periods for taking the birds, require public annual reporting of birds taken, and name who may take them, including state and tribal wildlife agencies and licensed private lake and pond managers. The Secretary would survey the cormorant population and update the plans every 5 years, and report to Congress within 90 days on whether hunting licenses for cormorants are feasible. The law would end on January 1, 2034.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Ted Cruz Republican sponsor
• 1 cosponsors