H.R. 224House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Polar Bear Conservation and Fairness Act

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 11:26 AM UTC

The Polar Bear Conservation and Fairness Act would change U.S. law to let people bring in polar bear trophies that were taken during sport hunts in Canada before the species was listed as threatened. It does this by adding a new permitting process to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, allowing certain historic trophies to be imported even though current rules generally prohibit polar bear parts. The bill mainly affects hunters, trophy dealers, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that issues the permits.

Key Provisions

Creates a new permit category for importing polar bear parts (excluding internal organs) taken in Canadian sport hunts before February 18, 1997, or before May 15, 2008, provided the hunter can prove the harvest was legal.
Specifies that the Secretary of the Interior must issue these permits promptly after a 30‑day review period and that certain existing prohibitions in the Marine Mammal Protection Act (sections 101 and 102) do not apply to these imported trophies.
Limits the exemption to trophies not already imported before June 12, 1997 (for the 1997 cutoff) or before the law’s enactment date (for the 2008 cutoff).

Legislative Activity

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9 earlier actions

HouseCalendars Latest Action

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 570.

June 12, 2018

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 3, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

January 3, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

Federal Lands Subcommittee

February 10, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.

Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee

February 10, 2017

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged.

Natural Resources Committee

May 16, 2018

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans Discharged.

Natural Resources Committee

May 16, 2018

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Natural Resources Committee

May 16, 2018

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

Natural Resources Committee

May 16, 2018

HouseCommittee

Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 115-735.

Natural Resources Committee

June 12, 2018

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 570.

June 12, 2018

Bill Text

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Reported in HouseIssued June 12, 2018

Union Calendar No. 570

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 224

[Report No. 115–735]

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 3, 2017

Mr. Young of Alaska introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

June 12, 2018

Additional sponsor: Mr. Smucker

June 12, 2018

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

A BILL

To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow importation of polar bear trophies taken in sport hunts in Canada before the date the polar bear was determined to be a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Polar Bear Conservation and Fairness Act.

Permits for importation of polar bear trophies taken in sport hunts in Canada

Section 104(c)(5)(D) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1374(c)(5)(D)) is amended to read as follows:

(D)

(i)

The Secretary of the Interior shall, expeditiously after the expiration of the applicable 30-day period under subsection (d)(2), issue a permit for the importation of any polar bear part (other than an internal organ) from a polar bear taken in a sport hunt in Canada to any person—

(I)

who submits, with the permit application, proof that the polar bear was legally harvested by the person before February 18, 1997; or

(II)

who has submitted, in support of a permit application submitted before May 15, 2008, proof that the polar bear was legally harvested by the person before May 15, 2008, from a polar bear population from which a sport-hunted trophy could be imported before that date in accordance with section 18.30(i) of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations.

(ii)

The Secretary shall issue permits under clause (i)(I) without regard to subparagraphs (A) and (C)(ii) of this paragraph, subsection (d)(3), and sections 101 and 102. Sections 101(a)(3)(B) and 102(b)(3) shall not apply to the importation of any polar bear part authorized by a permit issued under clause (i)(I). This clause shall not apply to polar bear parts that were imported before June 12, 1997.

(iii)

The Secretary shall issue permits under clause (i)(II) without regard to subparagraph (C)(ii) of this paragraph or subsection (d)(3). Sections 101(a)(3)(B) and 102(b)(3) shall not apply to the importation of any polar bear part authorized by a permit issued under clause (i)(II). This clause shall not apply to polar bear parts that were imported before the date of enactment of the Polar Bear Conservation and Fairness Act.

June 12, 2018

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed