Bear Protection Act of 2023
The Bear Protection Act of 2023 (HR 3518) prohibits the interstate and international trade of bear viscera (internal organs like gallbladders) and products containing them, such as traditional medicine ingredients. It directly affects businesses, importers, exporters, and anyone involved in trading these items across state lines or internationally. The bill creates criminal penalties (up to 1 year in prison or $25,000 fines) and civil enforcement through the Department of the Interior, while allowing limited exceptions for wildlife law enforcement and Native American cultural practices. It aims to reduce poaching and habitat loss by cutting demand for bear parts, particularly targeting trade linked to declining bear populations in Asia and the U.S.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced May 18, 2023
Last action Dec 17, 2024
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
4
Key actions
0
Committee
3
Dec 17, 2024
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
lower
May 22, 2023
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries.
lower
May 18, 2023
Committee
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
lower
May 18, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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