H.R. 5552: Migratory Bird Protection Act of 2020

116th Congress · introduced 2020-01-08 · Animals · Latest: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 386.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2020-01-08 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 386. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
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

Migratory Bird Protection Act of 2020

Plain summary

Migratory Bird Protection Act of 2020 This bill prohibits the incidental taking (e.g., capturing or killing) of migratory birds by commercial activities unless the activity is authorized under a permit or is identified as posing de minimis risk to migratory birds. The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) must regulate such incidental taking, including by (1) issuing general permits for certain industries, (2) creating a mitigation fee for any incidental taking of migratory birds, and (3) identifying categories of de minimis risk activities that are exempt from liability for the taking of migratory birds. In addition, the FWS must establish and maintain a research program: (1) to evaluate the impacts of commercial activities on birds, (2) to evaluate the effectiveness of best management practices and technologies to avoid or minimize such impacts, and (3) to develop new or improved best management practices and technologies.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House), 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

Migratory Bird Protection Act of 2020

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House)

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The strongest published arguments

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47] · 95 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5552, Migratory Bird Protection Act of 2020 (2020-06-30)

Cosponsors on this site

Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), Ed Case (D-HI), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Joseph D. Morelle (D-NY), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Dina Titus (D-NV), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Haley M. Stevens (D-MI), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL) and 35 more.

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)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
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.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-116hr5552.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/116/hr>

Record fed-us-cong116-hr5552 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116