The Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a legislative hearing today to review four bills aimed at supporting wildlife stewardship, conservation efforts, and the management of water projects. The session focused on measures intended to address habitat conservation, fisheries enhancement, and the preservation of Alaska Native traditions.
Subcommittee Chair Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) commented on the hearing: "In today's hearing, we discussed bills that highlight opportunities to conserve habitats, strengthen fisheries and preserve Alaska Native cultural traditions. The Natural Resources Committee remains focused on legislative solutions that ensure our conservation efforts are effective, our communities are supported and our natural heritage is passed on responsibly to future generations."
Among the bills discussed was H.R. 6021, the Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird Treaty Amendment Act. Introduced by Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska), this legislation seeks to clarify that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act does not ban the possession, sale or transport of authentic Alaska Native artworks made with materials such as migratory bird feathers.
H.R. 6568, known as the Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act and introduced by Rep. Troy Downing (R-Mont.), would reaffirm that responsibility for ownership, operation, and funding of the Lower Yellowstone Fish Bypass Channel lies with the Bureau of Reclamation rather than local farmers.
Another measure under consideration was H.R. 7159, or the Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026. Sponsored by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), this bill clarifies regulations from the Lacey Act regarding big cat possession in zoos. It also establishes a process for correcting registration errors and specifies requirements for importing and exporting big cats in qualified facilities.
Finally, H.R. 3276—the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2025—was introduced by Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.). This bill would formalize the Urban Bird Treaty Program into a defined grant program to support bird conservation efforts in urban environments.
Additional details about today's hearing can be found at the official House Natural Resources Committee website.
