To amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to extend the time period for which certain regulations concerning the North Atlantic right whale are effective.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8509
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Animals
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-27: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-02T22:16:18Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 8509 (119th Congress)
Purpose
To extend the duration of specific regulations aimed at protecting the North Atlantic right whale, an endangered species, by amending a prior appropriations law.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 101 of Division JJ in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (codified under 16 U.S.C. 1387 note).
- Replaces all instances of the year "2028" with "2035", thereby prolonging the regulations' effectiveness.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Extends the expiration date of the regulations from 2028 to 2035, a seven-year extension.
- No other modifications to the regulations' content, scope, or enforcement are made.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Prolongs requirements for agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to enforce whale protection rules, potentially affecting resource allocation.
- Citizens and industries: Continues restrictions (e.g., on fishing gear or vessel speeds in whale habitats), impacting commercial fishing and shipping operations along the U.S. East Coast.
- Environment: Sustains protections to reduce threats like ship strikes and entanglements for the North Atlantic right whale population.
- No direct international effects noted, though it may influence U.S. maritime activities in shared waters.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Commercial fishermen and shipping companies: Face ongoing compliance costs and operational limits.
- Environmental and conservation groups: Benefit from extended protections for the endangered whale.
- Federal agencies (e.g., NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service): Responsible for implementation and monitoring.
- Coastal communities in states like Maine: Affected through local fisheries and tourism.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Simple statutory amendment via appropriations rider; reinforces existing marine mammal protection framework under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; falls within Congress's commerce and spending powers.
- Political: Introduced by Rep. Golden (R-ME) and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources; balances industry interests with conservation amid debates on regulatory burdens.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-27: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2026-04-27: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to extend the time period for which certain regulations concerning the North Atlantic right whale are effective. — issued 2026-04-27 — PDF (2 pages)