Bills · HR 6251
REPORTED· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 6251Licensing and registrationsNorth America
To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow importation of polar bear trophies taken in sport hunts in Canada before the date the polar bear was determined to be a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
INTRO NOV 21· LAST ACTION JUL 15
READING
2MIN
COSPONSORS
2
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 3 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it changes how the U.S. applies its wildlife protection laws, specifically for polar bears. If it becomes law, it would create a specific exception to the general ban on importing products from threatened marine mammals. This could be seen as a way to allow hunters to bring in trophies from hunts that were legal at the time they occurred, before polar bears were listed as a threatened species.
On the other hand, voters concerned about wildlife conservation might see this as weakening protections for a species already facing threats like climate change, by allowing the import of their parts, even if the hunts were historical. The bill doesn't change the current rules for future hunts, but it modifies how past actions are treated under present law.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to issue permits for importing polar bear parts (excluding internal organs) from Canadian sport hunts.
This makes issuing these permits mandatory, removing discretion and ensuring eligible hunters can import their trophies.
PROVISION 02
Allows importation if the polar bear was legally hunted before February 18, 1997.
This establishes a specific retroactive date for certain hunts, predating most significant polar bear protection measures.
PROVISION 03
Allows importation if the polar bear was legally hunted before May 15, 2008, from a population that was previously allowed for trophy imports.
This provides a second specific retroactive date and condition for a different set of hunts, aligning with a specific prior regulatory allowance.
PROVISION 04
Exempts these permit applications from several other sections of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
This ensures the permits can be issued without being blocked by other protective clauses of the existing law.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 2
R· Alaska
YRS IN OFFICE
1
BILLS LED
41
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 0 REP 2 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
14 EVENTSJUL 15
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
JUL 15
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
JUL 15
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
APR 16
Subcommittee Hearings Held
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 6251
Congress119th
StatusReported
IntroducedNov 21, 2025
Last actionJul 15, 2026
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REPORTED· 119TH CONGRESS · NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED NOV 21, 2025
House BillHR 6251Licensing and registrationsNorth America
To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow importation of polar bear trophies taken in sport hunts in Canada before the date the polar bear was determined to be a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
INTRODUCED NOV 21, 2025· LAST ACTION JUL 15, 2026
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
2 min
COSPONSORS
2
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
