H.R. 6251: 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.

This bill proposes to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Specifically, it aims to allow the importation of polar bear trophies taken during sport hunts in Canada if those trophies were harvested before the polar bear was classified as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Key Features of the Bill

• The bill allows individuals to submit applications for permits to import polar bear parts (excluding internal organs) from trophies hunted in Canada.
• Eligibility for these permits is limited to trophies harvested:
  • Before February 18, 1997, or
  • Before May 15, 2008, from specific polar bear populations that were previously allowed for trophy hunting.
• The Secretary of the Interior is required to issue permits rapidly after the standard application period, ensuring a streamlined process for hunters.
• Permits will be issued without needing to comply with certain existing restrictions in the law, simplifying the process for hunters to import their trophies.

Implications

The amendment is intended to provide an opportunity for hunters who have legally harvested polar bears in Canada prior to specific dates to gain permission to import their trophies into the United States. This change reflects a desire to revisit previous conditions under which polar bear trophies were regulated, particularly as these regulations relate to sport hunting and conservation efforts.

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