The bill
Responsible Cormorant Management and Control Act of 2026
HR. 8195, 119th Congress β read as touching Agribusiness.
Sponsored by
Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5]
ID: W000798
Follow the money
The bill
HR. 8195, 119th Congress β read as touching Agribusiness.
The sponsor
Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.
The money
23 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Subcommittee Hearings Held
April 15, 2026
π Current Status
Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.
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!
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 β 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 β like watching paint dry.
Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5]
Congress 119 β’ 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
No committee contributions found
This bill has 4 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
ID: E000235
Top Contributors
10
ID: T000478
Top Contributors
10
ID: L000600
Top Contributors
10
ID: J000307
Top Contributors
10
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 51 nodes and 35 connections (41 secondary connections hidden)
Total contributions: $294,215
Showing top 19 donors by contribution amount
Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 2 helped.
Section 2(b)(5) accounts for the effects of an overabundant population of double-crested cormorants on fisheries, sensitive vegetation, and other factors, which could benefit agribusiness by mitigating potential negative impacts on their operations.
Section 2(b)(5) considers the effects of double-crested cormorants on sensitive vegetation, which could positively impact crop producers by reducing damage to their crops.
For each industry this bill affects, here's what the sponsor (Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5])received from donors associated with that industry during the 2022βpresent cycles. Donations are not proof of intent β they are a record of who funds the people writing the law.
To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to withdraw the outer Continental Shelf in the Mid-Atlantic Planning Area from disposition, and for other purposes.
Fisheries Data Modernization and Accuracy Act of 2025
Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act