Ringing Up No Sale on Shark Fins

The Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act (HR 2811), a bill that would prohibit the sale of shark fins, was reintroduced in the House of Representatives this past Earth Day with 104 members signing on as original cosponsors (twice the number from last Congress). This bipartisan legislation, led by Representatives Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (I-MP) and Michael McCaul (R-TX), passed the House last Congress but was not taken up by the Senate.

The Senate version of the bill (S 1106) is led by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV). On May 12, the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee voted 22–6 to include that bill as an amendment, offered by Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Capito, to the Endless Frontier Act (now known as the US Innovation and Competition Act). By the same margin, committee members defeated amendments offered by Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) that would have severely weakened the bill by exempting several at-risk shark species. 

Program Terms: Marine Wildlife

AWI Quarterly Terms: Government/Legal, Quick Read