President Trump Signs Graves' Nutria Bounty Bill into Law

Press Release

U.S. Congressman Garret Graves (South Louisiana) announces the nutria bounty bill he sponsored and negotiated has been signed by President Donald Trump. The legislation, H.R. 3399 - To amend the Nutria Eradication and Control Act of 2003 to include California in the program, and for other purposes, provides funding for a nutria bounty program and restoration funds to nutria related damage. U.S. Congressman Josh Harder (D-CA) is a sponsor of the legislation.

When the legislation passed the U.S. Senate, Graves said:

"We've spent months hosting meetings with Congressman Harder and representatives of the nutria community, but no solutions have prevailed in our negotiations for their peaceful surrender. Our funds were almost depleted but our spirits remained untouched in the fight for the soul of our marsh and coastal communities. With this swift action from the Commander in Chief, the states will have the resources needed to fight back the invasive species that accelerate the destruction of coastal wetlands."

The bill increases funding and expands efforts to control nutria populations. The funds will be distributed in an amount that is in proportion to the total impacted area affected by nutria. The legislation also allows the funding to be used to restore areas that have been lost or damaged by nutria. This includes public and private and private wetlands, agricultural lands and coastal marshes.

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