To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Wildlife Confiscations Network, and for other purposes.
Establish a Wildlife Confiscations Network by directing the Secretary of the Interior to create it.
Occurrences
Evidence
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Sponsor: Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2] (Introduced 05/21/2025). Committees: House - Natural Resources. Latest Action: House - 06/24/2025 Subcommittee Hearings Held. Tracker: This bill has the status Introduced.
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"To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Wildlife Confiscations Network, and for other purposes." Introduced in the House on May 21, 2025, by Mr. Garbarino (for himself and Mr. Quigley).
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House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a legislative hearing on H.R. 3538 (Rep. Garbarino), "Wildlife Confiscations Network Act of 2025."
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By Mr. GARBARINO (for himself and Mr. Quigley): H.R. 3538. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Wildlife Confiscations Network, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Natural Resources.
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The hearing materials reference H.R. 3538, "Wildlife Confiscations Network Act of 2025," and discuss the proposed network and related animal care protocols.
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Congress.gov lists Rep. Andrew R. Garbarino as sponsor, the official title as "To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Wildlife Confiscations Network," and the latest action as House - 06/24/2025 Subcommittee Hearings Held. The tracker still shows the bill at Introduced, before Passed House, Passed Senate, To President, or Became Law.
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DOI/FWS testimony states that H.R. 3538 "directs the Secretary to establish a voluntary, cooperative program" called the Wildlife Confiscations Network. It also says FWS and a private membership organization formed a 2023 Southern California pilot, which placed over 4,600 animals, but that "a need exists to expand the network" beyond the pilot.
Assessments
Garbarino sponsored H.R. 3538, the Wildlife Confiscations Network Act of 2025, which directly matches the promise by directing the Secretary of the Interior to establish the network. The bill received a House subcommittee legislative hearing, so there was a serious same-term legislative effort. However, the record shows the bill remains at the Introduced stage and has not passed Congress or become law, and the existing FWS pilot does not establish the promised broader federal network. Because Garbarino remains in office and the relevant Congress is ongoing, the promise is not yet delivered but remains unresolved rather than finally failed.
Garbarino clearly acted on the promise by introducing H.R. 3538, the Wildlife Confiscations Network Act of 2025, whose text directly matches the claimed objective of directing the Secretary of the Interior to establish the network. The bill also received a subcommittee legislative hearing, showing meaningful effort. However, the available record only shows introduction and hearing status, with no evidence that the bill passed, became law, or that the Secretary of the Interior established the network through administrative action. Because the current Congress/term is ongoing and the promise could still be fulfilled, the best judgment is unresolved rather than never.