Responsible Cormorant Management and Control Act of 2026

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Bill ID: 119/hr/8195
Last Updated: April 26, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5]

ID: W000798

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Subcommittee Hearings Held

April 15, 2026

Introduced

Committee Review

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the geniuses in Congress. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The "Responsible Cormorant Management and Control Act of 2026" is a laughable attempt to address the allegedly pressing issue of double-crested cormorant overpopulation. The bill's primary objective is to create regional management frameworks for the "take" (read: killing) of these birds, because apparently, they're a threat to fisheries, vegetation, and human health. How quaint.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** This bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to develop regional management plans within 180 days, in coordination with Regional Flyway Councils. These plans will dictate allowed methods and time periods for cormorant "take," as well as identify entities authorized to do so (because who doesn't want to be a licensed cormorant killer?). The bill also mandates population surveys every five years and updates to the management frameworks based on these surveys. Oh, and let's not forget the obligatory nods to "sustainability" and "conservation," because who wouldn't want to sound environmentally friendly while perpetuating a pointless slaughter?

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** This bill will undoubtedly delight the following stakeholders:

1. Cormorant hunters and enthusiasts (because who doesn't love a good bird hunt?). 2. Lake and pond managers, who'll get to "manage" cormorants on private property. 3. State and Tribal agencies, which will receive federal funding for their cormorant-killing endeavors. 4. The fishing industry, which will no doubt claim that cormorants are stealing all the fish (because, you know, it's not overfishing or habitat destruction).

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a textbook example of legislative placebo effect – it looks like something is being done, but in reality, it's just a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. The real issues driving cormorant population growth (habitat destruction, climate change, etc.) will remain unaddressed, while the symptoms are treated with more killing and "management." Meanwhile, the actual impact on fisheries, vegetation, and human health will be negligible, but hey, at least we'll have some nice numbers to throw around.

In conclusion, this bill is a masterclass in bureaucratic doublespeak, designed to appease special interests while pretending to address a non-existent problem. It's a testament to the boundless creativity of politicians in crafting meaningless legislation that sounds good on paper but accomplishes nothing in reality. Bravo, Congress! You've managed to create another pointless law that will only serve to line the pockets of lobbyists and special interest groups. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do – like watching paint dry.

Related Topics

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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$214,400
19 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$4,300
Committees
$0
Individuals
$210,100

No PAC contributions found

1
POKAGON BAND OF POTAWATOMI INDIANS
1 transaction
$3,300
2
WEIR FARMS
2 transactions
$1,000

No committee contributions found

1
HAWORTH, ETHELYN
1 transaction
$47,900
2
HONIG, KEN
1 transaction
$31,600
3
HAWORTH, RICHARD
2 transactions
$21,600
4
DRESNER, LINDA
2 transactions
$13,200
5
LEVY, EDWARD C JR.
2 transactions
$13,200
6
KLARR, GUNNAR
1 transaction
$10,000
7
DEVOS, PAMELLA G
1 transaction
$6,600
8
WEISER, RONALD N
1 transaction
$6,600
9
DEVOS, DOUGLAS L
1 transaction
$6,600
10
DEVOS, SUZANNE C
1 transaction
$6,600
11
DEVOS, ELISABETH
1 transaction
$6,600
12
EHMANN, STEVE
1 transaction
$6,600
13
DEVOS, DANIEL G
1 transaction
$6,600
14
DEVOS, MARIA P
1 transaction
$6,600
15
DEVOS, RICHARD M JR.
1 transaction
$6,600
16
GLICK, RANDAL L
1 transaction
$6,600
17
PEARSON, JOHN E
1 transaction
$6,600

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 2 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4]

ID: E000235

Top Contributors

10

1
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, LLC - ALEX HINSON, PARTNER AND CHIEF EXEC. OFFICER
Organization BIRMINGHAM, AL
$2,500
Nov 2, 2023
2
ALLY TELECOM GROUP LLC - PARTNERSHIP - MITCH KALIFEH
Organization METAIRIE, LA
$2,500
Aug 30, 2023
3
MS BAND OF CHOCTAW INDIANS
Organization CHOCTAW, MS
$1,000
Apr 25, 2023
4
GONC LTC, LLC
Organization JACKSON, MS
$1,000
Sep 14, 2023
5
STEED'S COLLISION CTR, LLC - LAURA STEED MANAGER
Organization BILOXI, MS
$1,000
Aug 30, 2023
6
WATKINS & EAGER PLLC - GRANT SELLERS, PARTNER
Organization JACKSON, MS
$1,000
Aug 30, 2023
7
TEN ONE STRATEGIES - JOHN HUGHES, MANAGING PARTNER
Organization JACKSON, MS
$500
Aug 25, 2023
8
GULF PRIDE COMPANIES, LLC - ERICH N. NICHOLS, MANAGER
Organization GULFPORT, MS
$250
Aug 30, 2023
9
WATKINS & EAGER PLLC - GRANT SELLERS, PARTNER
Organization JACKSON, MS
$250
Aug 25, 2023
10
DUNAGIN, MELINDA
DUNAGIN PEST SOLUTIONS OFFICE MANAGER
Individual HATTIESBURG, MS
$3,300
Nov 1, 2024

Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]

ID: T000478

Top Contributors

10

1
WINRED EARMARKS
PAC ARLINGTON, VA
$27,879
Oct 22, 2024
2
WINRED EARMARKS
PAC ARLINGTON, VA
$21,566
Oct 29, 2024
3
WINRED EARMARKS
PAC ARLINGTON, VA
$10,970
Nov 25, 2024
4
WINRED EARMARKS
PAC ARLINGTON, VA
$5,493
Nov 19, 2024
5
SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization LOS ANGELES, CA
$2,000
Nov 5, 2024
6
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization BANNING, CA
$2,000
Jun 18, 2024
7
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization SANTA YNEZ, CA
$2,000
Jun 18, 2024
8
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization BANNING, CA
$1,000
Mar 31, 2023
9
TEXTOR, DONALD
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual LOCUST VALLEY, NY
$13,200
Apr 17, 2024
10
WINE, SCOTT
POLARIS CEO
Individual EXCELSIOR, MN
$6,600
Sep 30, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 26 nodes and 29 connections

Total contributions: $280,815

Top Donors - Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5]

Showing top 19 donors by contribution amount

2 Orgs17 Individuals