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119-hr-1934119th Congress

ProTECT Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]

Introduced

Summary

Would ban trophy taking and trophy imports for species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. It would also broaden what counts as a “trophy” and tighten the antique exception to those bans.

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  • Hunters and importers: Hunters in the U.S. and its territorial sea and people importing trophies would be barred from taking or bringing in trophies of species listed as threatened.
  • Permits and licenses: The bill would stop federal permits from allowing trophy taking or trophy imports for threatened species, even when trophies were obtained under a State, foreign, or private license.
  • What counts as a trophy: “Trophy” would cover whole dead animals or recognizable parts or derivatives, raw, processed, or manufactured, if they came from a hunting license or other authorization.
  • Antique market: The antique carve-out would be narrowed so some previously exempt items could lose that protection when the new trophy rules apply.
  • Conservation and illegal trade: The bill cites findings that trophy hunting can reduce genetic diversity, reproduction, and social structure and can increase poaching. It says legal trade can enable illegal markets worth up to $20 billion a year.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Ban trophy hunts and imports for threatened species

If enacted, this would ban taking a threatened species for a trophy in the United States or its territorial sea. It would also ban importing any trophy of a threatened species into the United States. The Interior Department would not be allowed to issue permits for these hunts or imports. A "trophy" would mean a whole dead animal, or an easily recognized part or product, taken under a hunting license or similar authorization. These rules would start upon enactment.

Antique wildlife items kept exempt from ban

If enacted, antiques that meet the Endangered Species Act’s antique test would stay exempt from the new trophy import ban. Qualifying antique items could still be imported despite the new rule. This would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/6/2025

  • Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 3/6/2025

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 3/6/2025

  • Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/6/2025

  • Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 3/6/2025

  • Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 3/6/2025

  • Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/6/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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