H.R. 4850: Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2025
Sponsor
Harriet Hageman
Republican · WY
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Aug 1, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Why it matters
Introduced on 2025-08-01, HR4850 would immediately change how the federal government refers to one of the country's core wildlife laws by renaming the Endangered Species Act of 1973 as the Endangered Species Recovery Act.
HR4850, the Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2025, is a narrow bill with a symbolic but broad government-wide effect. It amends the first section of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, cited as 16 U.S.C. 1531 note and Public Law 93–205, to rename that law the “Endangered Species Recovery Act.”
The practical impact is in the bill's legal construction clause. It says any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the “Endangered Species Act of 1973” must be treated as a reference to the “Endangered Species Recovery Act.” That means the new name would flow across federal materials without requiring Congress or agencies to rewrite every existing statute and record one by one.
What the bill does not do is just as important. Based on the text provided, HR4850 does not change listing standards, habitat rules, enforcement tools, deadlines, penalties, or funding levels under existing endangered species law. There are no new dollar amounts, no new compliance dates beyond the bill's introduction on 2025-08-01, and no new agency programs in the text summarized here.
Politically, the bill appears designed to shift emphasis from simply identifying species as endangered to highlighting recovery as the end goal. Supporters may see that as a clearer public message about conservation outcomes. Critics may argue it is mostly a branding change because the fact sheet shows no new recovery mandates, no appropriations, and no substantive amendments beyond the rename.
What does H.R. 4850 do?
Renames 1973 wildlife law
HR4850 changes the name of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to the “Endangered Species Recovery Act.” The amendment specifically targets the first section of the 1973 law, cited as 16 U.S.C. 1531 note and Public Law 93–205.
Applies to all U.S. records
The bill says any federal reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the “Endangered Species Act of 1973” must be read as a reference to the “Endangered Species Recovery Act.” That is a government-wide rule, not a change limited to one agency.
No new funding specified: $0 listed
The fact sheet includes no authorization of appropriations, no grant funding, and no dollar amounts. In other words, HR4850 provides no specified new funding to carry out the name change or any recovery work.
No penalties, deadlines, or age rules added
The bill text summarized here includes no civil or criminal penalties, no compliance deadlines, and no age-based provisions. Unlike many substantive bills, HR4850 contains no fine amounts, no implementation timetable, and no defined age ranges because it is limited to renaming the law.
Introduced on 2025-08-01 with 0 cosponsors
The measure was introduced on 2025-08-01 and, based on the provided data, has 0 cosponsors. That suggests the bill starts as a stand-alone proposal rather than a broad bipartisan package.
Who benefits from H.R. 4850?
Federal agencies managing endangered species law
Agencies benefit from a clear legal rule that every federal reference to the “Endangered Species Act of 1973” is deemed to mean the “Endangered Species Recovery Act,” reducing the need to manually revise each law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record one at a time.
Conservation advocates focused on species recovery
These groups gain a federal law title that emphasizes “recovery” rather than only “endangered” status. The change is anchored in the amendment to the 1973 law at 16 U.S.C. 1531 note, giving that message formal statutory weight.
Courts and legal researchers
They benefit from the bill's construction clause, which explicitly states that any U.S. reference to the old title must be treated as a reference to the new one. That can help avoid disputes over whether older materials still point to the same law.
General public following wildlife policy
People may find “Endangered Species Recovery Act” easier to understand as a statement of purpose. The bill creates that simplified message without requiring readers to track multiple names for the same law after enactment.
Who is affected by H.R. 4850?
Federal departments and agencies
They would need to use the new title, “Endangered Species Recovery Act,” when referring to the law formerly called the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The bill reaches references in laws, maps, regulations, documents, papers, and other federal records.
Publishers of legal and regulatory materials
Government and commercial publishers would likely need to update citations, indexes, and explanatory materials to reflect the rename from the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to the Endangered Species Recovery Act.
Lawmakers and congressional staff
Future drafting would need to use the new title. Because HR4850 was introduced on 2025-08-01 and has 0 cosponsors in the provided data, staff may also watch whether the rename gains broader support before investing in wider statutory cleanup.
Stakeholders in endangered species regulation
Businesses, states, tribes, landowners, and environmental groups are affected mainly in terminology, not substance. The fact sheet shows no new penalties, no new deadlines, no new funding, and no changes to underlying legal standards.
H.R. 4850 Common Questions
Does HR4850 rename the Endangered Species Act of 1973?
Yes. Under the Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2025 (Sec. 2), the "Endangered Species Act of 1973" is renamed the "Endangered Species Recovery Act."
What happens to existing federal laws and regulations that mention the Endangered Species Act of 1973?
According to HR4850 Sec. 2, any reference in a federal law, regulation, map, document, paper, or other U.S. record to the old name is deemed a reference to the "Endangered Species Recovery Act."
Which federal records would be affected by the ESA name change under HR4850?
Under the Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2025 (Sec. 2), the rename applies to any U.S. law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other federal record using the old name.
Does HR4850 change the legal citation for the Endangered Species Act?
HR4850 amends the first section of the 1973 law cited at 16 U.S.C. 1531 note and Public Law 93–205, but Sec. 2 only changes the name, not the underlying citation structure described in the bill text.
Can agencies keep using 'Endangered Species Act of 1973' after HR4850?
They could reference it, but under HR4850 Sec. 2 any federal use of "Endangered Species Act of 1973" must be treated as a reference to the "Endangered Species Recovery Act."
Does the Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2025 add any new funding for species recovery?
No. The bill text summarized in HR4850 contains no appropriation or funding provision; Sec. 2 is limited to renaming the 1973 law.
Does HR4850 create new penalties or fines under endangered species law?
No. According to HR4850 Sec. 2, the bill only renames the law and includes a reference rule; it does not add new civil or criminal penalties.
Does HR4850 change endangered species listing standards or habitat protections?
No. Under the Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2025 (Sec. 2), the change is limited to renaming the law and how federal references are read, not listing or habitat rules.
Is the Endangered Species Act being renamed in maps and official federal documents too?
Yes. HR4850 Sec. 2 says references in any U.S. map, document, paper, regulation, law, or other federal record are deemed references to the "Endangered Species Recovery Act."
What section of the original endangered species law would HR4850 amend?
According to HR4850 Sec. 2, the bill amends the first section of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, cited as 16 U.S.C. 1531 note and Public Law 93–205.
Based on H.R. 4850 bill text
HR4850 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Aug 1, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
About the Sponsor
Harriet Hageman
Republican, Wyoming · 3 years in Congress
Committees: House Select Subcommittee to Investigate the Remaining Questions Surrounding January 6, 2021, Natural Resources, the Judiciary
View full profile →
Committee Sponsors
Natural Resources Committee
0 of 43 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
24 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 4850 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Natural Resources
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Environmental Protection
- Introduced
- Aug 1, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Aug 1, 2025
Official Sources
Official congressional bill page for the Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2025.
Official Congress.gov page for the original Endangered Species Act legislation referenced by HR4850.
Official U.S. Code chapter containing the federal endangered species statute that HR4850 would rename.
Official program page for one of the main federal agencies administering the Endangered Species Act.
Official NOAA Fisheries page covering ESA implementation for marine and anadromous species.
Official electronic Code of Federal Regulations section containing federal endangered species regulations affected only by name-reference updates under the bill.
Official Government Publishing Office record for Public Law 93-205, the original Endangered Species Act of 1973 cited in HR4850.
H.R. 4850 Bill Text
“To rename the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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