# 119-hr-9631: Bear Poaching Elimination Act

119-hr-9631, Bear Poaching Elimination Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] (R-TX); status introduced (as of 2026-07-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9631
- As of: 2026-07-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-9631
- Congress: 119
- Title: Bear Poaching Elimination Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-07-09
- Sponsor: Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] (R-TX)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Policy area: Animals
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-19

## Summary

**This bill would ban interstate and international trade in bear viscera and bear viscera products.** It would require federal rulemaking and enforcement to stop that trade and coordinate with international partners to eliminate markets for these items. - Traders and consumers: It would make it illegal to import, export, sell, buy, possess, transport, deliver, or receive bear viscera or products in interstate or foreign commerce, with a narrow permit exception for wildlife law enforcement. - Federal enforcement and agencies: The Secretary of the Interior, the Treasury Secretary, and the agency with Coast Guard oversight would issue regulations and enforce the ban using authorities like the Endangered Species Act, including seizures and forfeitures and civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation and criminal penalties up to 1 year in prison. - Native American communities: The bill preserves the use of bear viscera in traditional Native American rituals and ceremonies except as limited by the bill's section 5. - States and hunters: It preserves State authority over bear population management and lawful hunting under State law. - International relations: It directs ongoing discussions with Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and with non-Party jurisdictions identified as leading participants in bear viscera trade.

## Cosponsors (3)

- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2026-07-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2026-07-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2] (D-NH), 2026-07-09T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Fines and jail for illegal bear products: cost, low. This bill would let Interior, Treasury, and the Coast Guard enforce the ban like the Endangered Species Act. If you knowingly violated the ban you would face fines up to $25,000 for each violation. You could also face fines under title 18, up to 1 year in jail, or both. Illegal bear items would be…
- Ban on interstate and foreign bear trade: mixed, low. This bill would ban importing or exporting bear viscera and products. It would ban selling, buying, transporting, or possessing those items across state lines or in foreign trade. "Bear viscera" would mean internal organs or body fluids, including gallbladders and their contents, but not blood or b…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
- 119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
- 119-hr-1422: Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025
- 119-hr-5401: Pay Our Troops Act of 2026

## Sources
- [119-hr-9631 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9631)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage A…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-842)
- [119-hr-1422: Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1422)
- [119-hr-5401: Pay Our Troops Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5401)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9631 (as of 2026-07-19).