H.R. 2462

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2462 Reported in House (RH)]

<DOC>

Union Calendar No. 286
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2462

[Report No. 119-334]

To authorize livestock producers and their employees to take black 
vultures in order to prevent death, injury, or destruction to 
livestock, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 27, 2025

Mr. Rose (for himself, Mr. Soto, Mr. Rouzer, Mr. Bost, Mr. Messmer, Mr. 
Barr, Mr. Hern of Oklahoma, Mr. Smith of Missouri, Mr. Perry, Mrs. 
Bice, Mr. Meuser, Mr. Gooden, Mr. Alford, Mr. Graves, and Mr. Rulli) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Natural Resources

October 3, 2025

Additional sponsors: Mr. Harrigan, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Carter of Georgia, 
Mr. Lucas, Mr. Collins, Mr. Kustoff, Mr. Knott, Mr. Massie, Mr. Cole, 
Mr. Miller of Ohio, Mr. Yakym, and Mr. Hill of Arkansas

October 3, 2025

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 
27, 2025]

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To authorize livestock producers and their employees to take black 
vultures in order to prevent death, injury, or destruction to 
livestock, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Black Vulture Relief Act''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES TO 
TAKE CERTAIN BLACK VULTURES.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Black vulture.--The term ``black vulture'' means a bird 
of the species Coragyps atratus.
(2) Covered person.--The term ``covered person'' means--
(A) a livestock producer; or
(B) an employee of a livestock producer when the 
employee is actively engaged in livestock production.
(3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(4) Livestock.--The term ``livestock'' has the meaning 
given the term in section 602 of the Emergency Livestock Feed 
Assistance Act of 1988 (7 U.S.C. 1471).
(5) Livestock producer.--The term ``livestock producer'' 
has the meaning given the term in section 602 of the Emergency 
Livestock Feed Assistance Act of 1988 (7 U.S.C. 1471).
(6) Take.--The term ``take'' means--
(A) to capture, kill, or disperse a black vulture; 
or
(B) to transport a black vulture carcass.
(b) Authorization.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), notwithstanding 
the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.), a 
covered person may--
(A) take or attempt to take a black vulture that is 
causing, or that the covered person has a reasonable 
belief will cause, death, injury, or destruction to 
livestock; or
(B) in the course of taking or attempting to take a 
black vulture described in subparagraph (A), cause 
injury to the black vulture.
(2) Prohibition.--A covered person may not take or attempt 
to take a black vulture through the use of poison.
(c) Reports.--
(1) In general.--Not later than January 31 of each year, a 
covered person that takes a black vulture in accordance with 
subsection (b) in the preceding 12-month period shall complete 
and submit to the appropriate United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service Regional Office (as determined by the geographic 
jurisdictions described in section 2.2 of title 50, Code of 
Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)) an annual 
report using the form developed by the Director under 
subsection (d).
(2) Clarification.--A covered person shall not be required 
to submit a report under paragraph (1) until after the date on 
which the Director develops and makes available the reporting 
form under subsection (d).
(d) Reporting Forms.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director 
shall develop and make available on the website of the United 
States Fish and Wildlife Service a reporting form the Director 
determines appropriate for the purposes of accepting reports 
under subsection (c).
(2) Format.--The form developed and made available under 
paragraph (1) may not be more onerous to complete than similar 
forms required for permitted take under the Migratory Bird 
Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.) as of the date of enactment 
of this Act.
Union Calendar No. 286

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2462

[Report No. 119-334]

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To authorize livestock producers and their employees to take black 
vultures in order to prevent death, injury, or destruction to 
livestock, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

October 3, 2025

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed