Support for the Bear Protection Act of 2019 (H​.​R. 2264) & companion Senate Bill

The purpose of this petition is to urge the Georgia U.S. Congressional delegation to vote for passage of the bi-partisan legislation, H. Res. 2264 – Bear Protection Act of 2019 and the U.S. Senate companion bill.  The bill calls for the conservation of global bear populations by prohibiting the importation, exportation, and interstate trade of bear viscera and items, products, or substances containing, or labeled or advertised as containing, bear viscera, and for other purposes.

H. Res. 2264 was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on April 10, 2019 and referred to the Committees on Natural Resources, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, and Subcommittee on Trade the same day.  It was referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife on April 26, 2019. U.S. Senators John Kennedy, R-La., and Cory Booker, D-N.J. introduced the bill in the U.S. Senate on January 16, 2020.  

In Georgia, we have three distinct populations of Black Bears; North (a.k.a Appalachia), Central, and South Georgia.  The population estimates are 3,000, 300, and 800 respectively according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resource’s Strategic Management Plan for Black Bears in Georgia (2019-2028).  Although the American Black Bear is no longer on the endangered species list, the world wide black market remains.  Couple these two facts and multiple international air and seaports, the State of Georgia is on the front line of this illegal trade!  

The Appalachia Georgia Friends of the Bears mission is to reduce Human / Bear conflict through proactive educational outreach programs, increase public awareness about coexisting with black bears, the use of humane bear deterrents, and advocacy.  We act as a voice for one of God’s creatures that cannot speak for themselves, Ursus Americanus, the American Black Bear.  We hope that the Georgia U.S. Congressional delegation will do the same by showing their support for conservation and stewardship of our natural resources by voting for passage of these bills!  

Thank you for your vote in support of this legislation.