Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a hearing on four bills related to responsible habitat management and efficient spending. Subcommittee Chair U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) issued the following statement in response: 

"We need to advocate for reforms that reflect our dedication to practical conservation and fiscal responsibility. H.R. 839 is a commonsense reform that safeguards against a reckless hundredfold expansion of the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. With billions in deferred maintenance, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service needs to focus on maintaining the land it already manages instead of expanding its federal footprint. Additionally, H.R. 2293 delivers long-overdue relief to fish farmers who are facing devastating losses from the unchecked predation of double-crested cormorants. Policies like these highlight this Subcommittee’s commitment to responsible, pragmatic management of our nation’s wildlife and its habitats."

Background

H.R. 839, introduced by U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), prohibits the implementation, administration , and enforcement of the finalized land management plan for the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge. The Biden administration previously announced a more than 100-fold expansion of the refuge as part of its radical 30x30 Initiative. 

H.R. 2293, the Cormorant Relief Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell (R-Miss.), reinstates the Aquaculture Depredation Order for double-crested cormorants, which gives aquaculture managers more tools to manage double-crested cormorant populations responsibly.

H.R. 2316, the Wetlands Conservation Access Improvement Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.), extends through 2033 the period in which the interest accrued on unallocated Pittman-Robertson funds can be used to supplement congressional appropriations to the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. The authority is set to expire on Sept. 30, 2025, without this extension. 

H.R. 1809, the Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), reauthorizes the Great Lakes Fishery Research Program to support the diverse ecosystem and economic engine of the Great Lakes. 

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