United States 116th Congress Status: In Committee 1 D cosponsors

HR 2245 — CECIL Act

Last action — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 563.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 116th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Conserving Ecosystems by Ceasing the Importation of Large Animal Trophies Act or the CECIL Act This bill addresses international wildlife conservation efforts and trophy hunting. Specifically, this bill restricts the importation of a sport-hunted trophy of a threatened species or endangered species. In addition, the bill abolishes the International Wildlife Conservation Council of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Finally, the Government Accountability Office must study the effectiveness of trophy hunting in supporting international wildlife conservation efforts.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

76 added · 26 removed

Plain-language change summary

The bill updates the Endangered Species Act by changing the language regarding the import and export of threatened or endangered species. It removes specific conditions for sporting trophies and the related findings the Secretary must make before permitting such activities. As a result, the bill could alter how import permits for sport-hunted trophies are evaluated, particularly concerning elephant and lion trophies from certain countries.

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2245 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H.
2245 Reported in House (RH)] <DOC> Union Calendar No.
563 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H.
2245 To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit import and export of any species listed or proposed to be listed under such Act as a threatened species or endangered species, and for other purposes.
2245 [Report No.
116-680, Part I] To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit import and export of any species listed or proposed to be listed under such Act as a threatened species or endangered species, and for other purposes.
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit import and export of any species listed or proposed to be listed under such Act as a threatened species or endangered species, and for other purposes.
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned December 21, 2020 Additional sponsors:
Ms.
Lofgren, Mr.
Huffman, Ms.
Kuster of New Hampshire, Ms.
Lee of California, Ms.
Brownley of California, Mr.
DeFazio, Mr.
Garcia of Illinois, Mr.
Malinowski, Ms.
Haaland, Mr.
Hastings, Mrs.
Murphy of Florida, Ms.
McCollum, Ms.
Dean, Mr.
Johnson of Georgia, Ms.
Underwood, Ms.
Schakowsky, Mr.
Soto, Mrs.
Davis of California, Mr.
McGovern, Mr.
Neguse, Mr.
Quigley, Ms.
Castor of Florida, Ms.
DelBene, Ms.
Mucarsel-Powell, Mr.
Blumenauer, Mr.
Carbajal, Ms.
Wasserman Schultz, Mr.
Schiff, Mrs.
Carolyn B.
Maloney of New York, Mr.
Pocan, Mr.
Connolly, Ms.
Shalala, Mr.
Swalwell of California, Mr.
Show all 79 changed rows (39 more)
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Carson of Indiana, Ms.
Scanlon, Ms.
Judy Chu of California, Mr.
Pascrell, Mrs.
Hayes, Mr.
Crist, Ms.
Titus, Ms.
Eshoo, Mr.
DeSaulnier, Ms.
Spanberger, Mr.
Yarmuth, Mrs.
Lowey, Mr.
Smith of Washington, Mr.
Beyer, Mr.
Lipinski, Mr.
Foster, and Mrs.
Luria December 21, 2020 Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with amendments [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] December 21, 2020 Committees on Foreign Affairs and Ways and Means discharged;
committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 10, 2019] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit import and export of any species listed or proposed to be listed under such Act as a threatened species or endangered species, and for other purposes.
Section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C.
Section 9(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C.
1538(a)(1)) is amended by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:
1538(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(A) import into or export from the United States any species listed or proposed to be listed under section 4(c) as a threatened species or endangered species;''.
``(3) Except as provided in section 10 of this Act, it is unlawful for any person to import into or export from the United States any sport-hunted trophy of a species listed or proposed to be listed under section 4(c) as a threatened species or endangered species.''.
``(3) Before issuing any permit under this Act authorizing import of any sport-hunted trophy of a threatened species or endangered species, the Secretary must make a finding after public notice and comment pursuant to section 553 of title 5, United States Code, of whether the country where the animal was killed adequately provides for the conservation and monitoring for that species, including-- ``(A) a management plan for that species based on the best available science that-- ``(i) addresses existing threats to the species;
``(3) Before issuing any permit under this Act authorizing import of any sport-hunted trophy of a species that is listed or proposed to be listed as an endangered or threatened species, the Secretary must make a finding after public notice and comment pursuant to section 553 of title 5, United States Code, of whether the country where the animal was killed adequately provides for the conservation and monitoring for that species, including that-- ``(A) a management plan for that species based on the best available science that-- ``(i) addresses existing threats to the species;
provides a significant conservation benefit to the species;
``(ii) provides a significant conservation benefit to the species;
``(ii) formally coordinates with adjacent countries to protect transboundary populations;
``(iii) formally coordinates with adjacent countries to protect transboundary populations;
and ``(iii) ensures that any take is sustainable and does not contribute to the species' decline in either the short-term or long-term according to current population estimates derived through the use of the best available science;
and ``(iv) ensures that any take is sustainable and does not contribute to the species' decline in either the short-term or long-term according to current population estimates derived through the use of the best available science;
and ``(D) hunting of the species in such country enhances the propagation or survival of the species.
``(D) hunting of the species in such country enhances the propagation or survival of the species;
``(4) Notwithstanding sections 9(b) and 9(c)(2), no permit may be issued by the Secretary for the import of a sport-hunted trophy of an elephant or lion taken in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, or Zambia.''.
and ``(E) the local community in which the trophy hunting occurs directly and substantially benefits from the hunting of the species.
``(4) Notwithstanding subsections (b) and (c)(2) of section 9, no permit may be issued by the Secretary for the import of a sport-hunted trophy of an elephant or lion taken in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, or Zambia.''.
1539(c)) is amended by striking ``which is made under this section'' and inserting in its place ``under this Act for an endangered species or threatened species''.
1539(c)) is amended by inserting ``The Secretary shall publish notice in the Federal Register of each application for an exemption or permit which is made under this Act for a sport-hunted trophy of a species that is listed or proposed to be listed as an endangered species or threatened species.'' after ``section.'' SEC.
SEC.
<all>
Amend the title so as to read:
``A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to strengthen protections for endangered and threatened species, as well as species proposed to be listed, by requiring certification by the Fish and Wildlife Service that any international trophy hunting of those species enhances the conservation of the species before any import of the trophy would be permitted, and for other purposes.''.
Union Calendar No.
563 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H.
R.
2245 [Report No.
116-680, Part I] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit import and export of any species listed or proposed to be listed under such Act as a threatened species or endangered species, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________ December 21, 2020 Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with amendments December 21, 2020 Committees on Foreign Affairs and Ways and Means discharged;
committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
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How this bill changes current law

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Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends the Endangered Species Act to prohibit the import and export of species listed or proposed as threatened or endangered and establishes additional requirements for permits related to sport-hunted trophies of such species.

  • 16 U.S.C. 1538(a)

    (3) Except as provided in section 10 of this Act, it is unlawful for any person to import into or export from the United States any sport-hunted trophy of a species listed or proposed to be listed under section 4(c) as a threatened species or endangered species.

    This adds a new prohibition on the import and export of sport-hunted trophies of threatened or endangered species.

  • 16 U.S.C. 1539(a)

    (3) Before issuing any permit under this Act authorizing import of any sport-hunted trophy of a species that is listed or proposed to be listed as an endangered or threatened species, the Secretary must make a finding after public notice and comment pursuant to section 553 of title 5, United States Code, of whether the country where the animal was killed adequately provides for the conservation and monitoring for that species...

    This establishes new requirements for permits relating to the import of sport-hunted trophies to ensure conservation efforts in the country where the animal was killed.

  • 16 U.S.C. 1539(a)(2)

    (C) No permit may be issued by the Secretary under this Act for import of a sport-hunted trophy unless the applicant pays to the Secretary all administrative costs incurred by the United States that are associated with processing the permit application.

    This requires applicants for sport-hunted trophy permits to pay for all administrative costs associated with processing their applications.

  • 16 U.S.C. 1539(c)

    The Secretary shall publish notice in the Federal Register of each application for an exemption or permit which is made under this Act for a sport-hunted trophy of a species that is listed or proposed to be listed as an endangered species or threatened species.

    This mandates transparency by requiring the Secretary to publish notices of trophy import permit applications.

  • 16 U.S.C. 1539

    (b) and (c)(2) → (4) Notwithstanding subsections (b) and (c)(2) of section 9, no permit may be issued by the Secretary for the import of a sport-hunted trophy of an elephant or lion taken in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, or Zambia.

    This prohibits the import of sport-hunted trophies of elephants or lions taken in specific countries.

Action History

  1. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-680, Part I.

  2. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-680, Part I.

  3. Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged.

  4. Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged.

  5. Committee on Ways and Means discharged.

  6. Committee on Ways and Means discharged.

  7. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 563.

  8. Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Discharged.

  9. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  10. Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 16.

  11. Subcommittee Hearings Held.

  12. Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.

  13. Introduced in House

  14. Introduced in House

  15. Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  16. Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  17. Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  18. Referred to the Subcommitte on Trade.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

Animals Africa Congressional oversight Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad Endangered and threatened species Government studies and investigations Hunting and fishing Rule of law and government transparency Tanzania Trade restrictions User charges and fees Wildlife conservation and habitat protection Zambia Zimbabwe
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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 2245 do?
Conserving Ecosystems by Ceasing the Importation of Large Animal Trophies Act or the CECIL Act This bill addresses international wildlife conservation efforts and trophy hunting. Specifically, this bill restricts the importation of a sport-hunted trophy of a threatened species or endangered species. In addition, the bill abolishes the International Wildlife Conservation Council of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Finally, the Government Accountability Office must study the effectiveness of trophy hunting in supporting international wildlife conservation efforts.
Who sponsors HR 2245?
HR 2245 is sponsored by Grijalva, Raúl M. (Democratic).
What is the current status of HR 2245?
This bill died with 116th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 2245?
Track HR 2245 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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