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S. 1050Senate117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Cormorant Relief Act

Sponsored by Tom CottonSen. Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Introduced March 25, 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 12:58 AM UTC

The Cormorant Relief Act gives legal force to existing federal regulations that allow the taking of double‑crested cormorants, and it requires the Interior Secretary (through the Fish and Wildlife Service) to inform the public about this authority. The law applies to anyone affected by those regulations, such as wildlife managers and landowners, and it ends when a new depredation regulation is issued.

Key Provisions

  • Makes sections 21.47 and 21.48 of Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (as of Jan. 1, 2016) have the force of law for taking double‑crested cormorants.
  • Requires the Secretary of the Interior, via the Fish and Wildlife Service, to provide public notice about this authority.
  • Sets a sunset: the authority ends when a new regulation controlling cormorant depredation is promulgated after the act’s enactment.
  • Clarifies that the Secretary can still issue other regulations on cormorant taking under different laws.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Environment and Public Works Committee

March 25, 2021

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 25, 2021

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Environment and Public Works Committee

March 25, 2021

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 1050 on the floor

1 Republican
Brian K. Fitzpatrick
Rep. Brian K. FitzpatrickR-PA-1 · Nov 15, 2021

Madam Speaker, on November 5th, I proudly recognized dozens of Chinese-American Veterans from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who served gallantly in our United States military during World War II.…

Record
Brian K. Fitzpatrick
Rep. Brian K. FitzpatrickR-PA-1 · Nov 5, 2021

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the following Chinese American Veterans from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who served gallantly in our United States military during

Record

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued March 25, 2021

II

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1050

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 25, 2021

Mr. Cotton (for himself, Mr. Boozman, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, and Mr. Tuberville) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

A BILL

To enact as law certain regulations relating to the taking of double-crested cormorants.

1.

Short Title

This Act may be cited as the Cormorant Relief Act.

2.

Regulations relating to the taking of double-crested cormorants

(a)

Force and effect

(1)

In general

Subject to subsection (b), sections 21.47 and 21.48 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 1, 2016), shall have the force and effect of law.

(2)

Public notice

The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (referred to in this section as the Secretary), shall notify the public of the authority provided by paragraph (1) in a manner determined to be appropriate by the Secretary.

(b)

Sunset

The authority provided by subsection (a)(1) shall terminate on the effective date of a regulation promulgated by the Secretary after the date of enactment of this Act to control depredation of double-crested cormorant populations.

(c)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this section limits the authority of the Secretary to promulgate regulations relating to the taking of double-crested cormorants under any other law.