Congress·In Committee·H.R. 2176

Saving NEMO Act of 2025

Saving NEMO Act: Protecting Coral Reef Fish and Wildlife

Mar 18, 2025·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

This bill is one vehicle in a longer effort. See the full story across every version.View effort →

Next up: A house committeeNo action in 15 months

The Saving NEMO Act of 2025 is currently sitting in the House committees where it was sent in March 2025. No action has been taken on this bill for 15 months. It is considered stalled because the committees have not moved forward with the proposal.

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Unlikely to pass

While this bill has support from environmental advocates, it faces significant opposition from the aquarium industry and has not yet gained broad bipartisan support.

How we got here

This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.

Reintroduced
Reintroduced from H.R. 6447 (118th), which died when its Congress ended.
H.R. 6447 (118th) →

Key Points

This bill aims to protect coral reefs by stopping the collection of certain fish and marine life for the aquarium and decoration trade. It targets species that are at risk of dying out or those that often die when being moved or kept in tanks.
The law would ban using harmful methods to catch these animals, such as using explosives, dredging the reef, or using poisons like cyanide. If a fish is found with poison in its system, the government will consider that proof it was caught illegally.
People could still trade these species if they come from certified fish farms or breeding programs that do not hurt the wild environment. There are also exceptions for scientists, museums, and zoos that follow strict conservation rules.
Businesses that break these rules could face fines of up to $25,000 and up to two years in prison. The government would also have the power to take away any boats, nets, or vehicles used to catch or move the animals illegally.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Mar 18, 2025House

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.

Mar 18, 2025

Introduced in House

The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.

No votes, news coverage, or related bills recorded for this bill yet.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Saving NEMO Act of 2025

Bill NumberHR 2176

Congress119th Congress

ChamberHouse of Representatives

Latest ActionReferred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Data Sources

Congress.gov

Official legislative information

Read Full Bill Text

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(2)

D: 2

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.