SPEAR Act of 2025

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 1150 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1150 To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to exclude certain populations of the lake sturgeon from the authority of such Act. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 7, 2025 Mr. Wied (for himself, Mr. Grothman, and Mr. Tiffany) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to exclude certain populations of the lake sturgeon from the authority of such Act. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Sturgeon Protected and Exempt from Absurd Regulations Act of 2025'' or the ``SPEAR Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN POPULATIONS OF LAKE STURGEON UNDER ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT OF 1973. (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following: (1) The lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) holds a special place in the cultural fabric of Wisconsin, especially for the communities located on Lake Winnebago and the Winnebago System. (2) Through the staunch dedication and close public-private collaboration of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Sturgeon for Tomorrow, the Sturgeon Advisory Committee, the Sturgeon Guard, and local fishing, sportsmen, and conservation groups, Wisconsin has become the global leader in lake sturgeon management. (3) As a result of these efforts and the development and implementation of a comprehensive management plan, the Lake Winnebago system is home to a thriving lake sturgeon population, one of the largest in North America, and the most successful sustainable sturgeon fisheries in the world. (4) An integral component of this m