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H.R. 4245: To exempt exportation of certain echinoderms and mollusks from licensing requirements under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

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H.R. 4245: To exempt exportation of certain echinoderms and mollusks from licensing requirements under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

114th Congress · introduced 2015-12-11 · Environmental Protection · Latest: Message on Senate action sent to the House.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2015-12-11 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Message on Senate action sent to the House. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

To exempt exportation of certain echinoderms and mollusks from licensing requirements under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Plain summary

(Sec. 1) This bill requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to issue a proposed rule that establishes expedited procedures relating to the export permission requirements of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 for sea urchins and sea cucumbers that are designated as food for humans or animals. The USFWS may include in the rule an exemption from export permission requirements or export licensing requirements for those species. If an exemption will have a significant negative impact on the conservation of sea urchins or sea cucumbers, the USFWS may not provide the exemption to the requirements. In addition, the USFWS may not provide an exemption to an entity that has been convicted of a violation of a law relating to the importation, transportation, or exportation of wildlife in the five years preceding the date on which the entity applied for the exemption.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

To exempt exportation of certain echinoderms and mollusks from licensing requirements under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate amended)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 4245, a bill to exempt exportation of certain echinoderms and mollusks from licensing requirements under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (2016-08-12)

Cosponsors on this site

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] reported raising $551,078 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Exemption
A rule that removes certain people, property or activities from a tax or requirement.
Rulemaking
The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong114-hr4245 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114