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HR 619 105th Congress House

Bear Protection Act

Official title: To prohibit the import, export, sale, purchase, possession, transportation, acquisition, and receipt of bear viscera or products that contain or claim to contain bear viscera, and for other purposes.

Introduced: April 23, 1998 See on congress.gov
Animals BarterBearsCongressCongressional reporting requirements
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Crime and Law EnforcementEndangered animalsEnvironmental ProtectionEnvironmental law enforcementExport controlsExportsFinance and Financial SectorFines (Penalties)Foreign Trade and International FinanceForfeitureGovernment Operations and PoliticsImport restrictionsImportsInformersInternational Affairs
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This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 9 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 24, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
Feb 18, 1997
Executive Comment Requested from Commerce, Interior.
Feb 18, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans.
Feb 13, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Feb 5, 1997
Referred to House Ways and Means
Feb 5, 1997
Referred to House International Relations
Feb 5, 1997
Referred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committees on International Relations, 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.
Feb 5, 1997
Referred to House Resources
Feb 5, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 24, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Bear Protection Act - Prohibits any person from: (1) importing bear viscera into, or exporting it from, the United States; or (2) selling bear viscera, bartering, offering it for sale or barter, purchasing, or possessing it with intent to sell or barter, transporting, acquiring, or receiving it in interstate or foreign commerce. Subjects persons who violate such prohibitions to specified penalties.

Requires the Secretary of the Interior and the United States Trade Representative to discuss issues involving such trade with representatives of countries that are the leading importers, exporters, or consumers of such products. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on the progress of efforts to end illegal trade in bear viscera.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 263 Identical bill Bear Protection Act of 1998
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
 Cosponsors 18
All 18 Democratic 14 Republican 2 Independent 1
R
Calvert, Ken
California · May 21, 1998
 D
Smith, Adam
Washington · May 21, 1998
LAMPSON, NICK
· Apr 23, 1998
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Feb 26, 1998
 D
Sherman, Brad
California · Feb 4, 1998
 D
Pallone, Frank
New Jersey · Nov 4, 1997
 D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
Connecticut · Oct 28, 1997
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Oct 21, 1997
 D
Neal, Richard E.
Massachusetts · Oct 21, 1997
 D
Waters, Maxine
California · Oct 21, 1997
 D
Clyburn, James E.
South Carolina · Oct 7, 1997
 D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Sep 5, 1997
 D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · Mar 20, 1997
 D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Mississippi · Feb 27, 1997
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Feb 5, 1997
 D
Pelosi, Nancy
California · Feb 5, 1997
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Feb 5, 1997
 R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Feb 5, 1997
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 619: Bear Protection Act. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-619/
MLA
"H.R. 619: Bear Protection Act." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-619/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 619, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-619/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 619: Bear Protection Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-619/)
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