Jared Huffman Criticizes Republican Bill on Black Vulture Permits

Criticism of the Black Vulture Bill

• 💡 The bill is deemed unnecessary and a waste of time by Rep. Huffman.
• 📌 A pilot project previously facilitated permits for black vulture take, allowing farm bureaus and state agencies to manage permits for livestock producers.

Current Permit System for Black Vultures

• 🎯 Permits were issued for $100, allowing for the take of up to 10 black vultures to protect commercial livestock.
• 🛠️ In 2021, the Fish and Wildlife Service expanded this program to cover the full range of the black vulture, making all states eligible.
• 📊 The current system allows state entities to hold statewide permits, with producers obtaining individual permits from them, streamlining the process and centralizing reporting.

Lack of Demand for Permits

• 📉 The Fish and Wildlife Service indicated that the number of permits requested for black vulture take is far less than authorized.
• ⚠️ For example, in Tennessee, a statewide permit allowed for a thousand takes, but only 97 were used in 2022 and 64 in 2023.
• ✅ Congress codified this livestock permit program when reauthorizing the America's Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act, and there has been no feedback indicating it is not working.

Concerns About the Proposed Legislation

• 🚫 The bill would remove safeguards built into take permits.
• ⚠️ It would limit the Fish and Wildlife Service's ability to recommend other mitigation methods.
• 📉 The legislation would also remove reporting accountability and legislatively undermine the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the ACE Act.