H.R. 3003 (119th)Bill Overview

Restore M–44 Act

Public Lands and Natural Resources|Public Lands and Natural Resources
Cosponsors
Support
Republican
Introduced
Apr 24, 2025
Discussions
Bill Text
Current stageCommittee

Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consid…

Introduced
Committee
Floor
President
Law
Congressional Activities
01 · The brief

This bill directs the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture to rescind a Master Memorandum of Understanding (BLM–MOU–HQ230–2023–05) related to wildlife damage management.

It also allows the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to purchase, deploy, and train third parties on M–44 sodium cyanide ejector devices and the toxins sodium fluoroacetate ("1080").

Finally, it removes a requirement to provide congressional committees updates about the prior directive that prohibited purchase, deployment, or training on M–44 devices.

Passage30/100

Narrow but polarizing; easier in a favorable House but substantial Senate and stakeholder opposition reduce odds absent compromise.

CredibilityMisaligned

Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill specifies a narrow set of substantive actions (rescission of a specific MOU and removal of a prior prohibition and reporting requirement) with clear immediate directives to named officials, but it lacks contextual problem statement, funding information, procedural detail, safety safeguards, and oversight mechanisms that would commonly accompany a substantive policy change authorizing hazardous operations.

Contention70/100

Animal welfare and environmental risk vs property and livestock protection

02 · What it does

Who stands to gain, and who may push back.

Who this appears to help vs burden50% / 50%
Federal agenciesTargeted stakeholders
Likely helped
  • Federal agenciesEnables federal agencies to resume use of M-44s, potentially increasing predator control capacity.
  • Targeted stakeholdersCould reduce livestock losses and associated economic costs through additional lethal control tools.
  • Targeted stakeholdersMay create private-sector jobs for device manufacture, training, and deployment services.
Likely burdened
  • Targeted stakeholdersIncreases risk of non-target human and domestic animal injuries or deaths from sodium cyanide ejectors.
  • Targeted stakeholdersRaises environmental contamination risks from sodium fluoroacetate (Compound 1080) affecting wildlife and ecosystems.
  • Targeted stakeholdersReduces congressional oversight and transparency by prohibiting required implementation updates to committees.
03 · Why people split

Why the argument around this bill splits.

Animal welfare and environmental risk vs property and livestock protection
Progressive10%

Likely to view the bill negatively because it reauthorizes lethal toxic devices and limits transparency.

They would emphasize animal welfare, risks to non-target species, and public safety concerns.

They would push for stricter safeguards or alternative non-lethal measures.

Likely resistant
Centrist50%

Mixed view: recognizes need to address wildlife conflicts but worries about safety, environmental harm, and transparency.

Sees potential for pragmatic use if accompanied by strict rules, monitoring, and limited deployment.

Would favor amendments or conditions to manage risks.

Split reaction
Conservative80%

Likely to support the bill as restoring federal authority and practical tools for ranchers and land managers.

Views rescission of the MOU and prohibition as reducing federal overreach and helping property protection.

Concern about activist criticism but generally prioritizes operational effectiveness.

Leans supportive
04 · Can it pass?

The path through Congress.

Introduced

Reached or meaningfully advanced

Committee

Reached or meaningfully advanced

Floor

Still ahead

President

Still ahead

Law

Still ahead

Passage likelihood30/100

Narrow but polarizing; easier in a favorable House but substantial Senate and stakeholder opposition reduce odds absent compromise.

Scope and complexity
24%
Scopenarrow
24%
Complexitylow
Why this could stall
  • How much organized opposition from conservation groups will mobilize
  • Whether affected agencies face legal or regulatory constraints (NEPA, state law)
05 · Recent votes

Recent votes on the bill.

No vote history yet

The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.

06 · Go deeper

Go deeper than the headline read.

Included on this page

Animal welfare and environmental risk vs property and livestock protection

Narrow but polarizing; easier in a favorable House but substantial Senate and stakeholder opposition reduce odds absent compromise.

Unlocked analysis

Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill specifies a narrow set of substantive actions (rescission of a specific MOU and removal of a prior prohibition and reporting requirement) with clear immediate directi…

Go beyond the headline summary with full stakeholder mapping, legislative design analysis, passage barriers, and lens-by-lens tradeoff breakdowns.

Perspective breakdownsPassage barriersLegislative design reviewStakeholder impact map
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