To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow importation of polar bear trophies taken in sport hunts in Canada before the date the polar bear was determined to be a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
HR 6251 would amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act to allow U.S. importation of polar bear trophies (excluding internal organs) from sport hunts in Canada that occurred before specific dates: February 18, 1997, or May 15, 2008. The bill requires hunters to provide proof of legal harvest before those dates and directs the Secretary of the Interior to issue permits without considering current population status or other restrictions under the Act. It directly affects hunters who took polar bears in Canada before these dates and wish to import trophies, bypassing standard MMPA import limitations. The policy change only applies to trophies from past hunts, not future hunting activities.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Nov 21, 2025
Last action Jul 15, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
7
Key actions
3
Committee
5
Amendments
1
Jul 15, 2026
Introduced
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
lower
Jul 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
lower
Jul 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
lower
Apr 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee Hearings Held
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
lower
Nov 21, 2025
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
lower
Nov 21, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Nicholas J. Begich III
RRepublican
Co
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter
RRepublican
Co
Lloyd Smucker
RRepublican
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