SAFE for Manatees Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9590
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-07-02: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-07T04:53:30Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to study potential alternative habitats for manatees in Florida whose current warm-water sites near coastal industrial facilities may be lost due to decommissioning actions that change water temperatures.
Key Provisions Outlined
- Requires the Secretary of the Interior (acting through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) to conduct a study identifying and assessing locations that could serve as manatee habitat.
- The study must examine both natural warm-water sites not currently used by manatees and sites where artificial warm-water refugia could be built.
- Directs development of methods to create artificial refugia, in consultation with the Secretary of the Army (through the Chief of Engineers).
- Requires coordination with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
- Mandates a public report on study results within 180 days of enactment.
- Defines “manatee” as a member of the species Trichechus manatus.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced The bill creates a new, time-limited study requirement for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It does not amend or repeal any existing statutes.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Assigns a new study and reporting duty to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, requires interagency consultation with the Army Corps of Engineers, and directs coordination with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
- Citizens: May indirectly support manatee conservation efforts in Florida by informing future habitat decisions, but creates no new rights or obligations for individuals.
- International relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Manatees in Florida coastal areas
- Florida communities and industries near affected industrial sites
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The legislation raises no apparent constitutional concerns and operates within standard congressional authority over federal agencies and wildlife management. It reflects a focused, non-regulatory approach limited to information gathering rather than new mandates or enforcement actions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11]
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
Recent Actions
- 2026-07-02: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2026-07-02: Introduced in House
- 2026-07-02: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Study and Assessment of Future Ecosystems for Manatees Act — issued 2026-07-02 — PDF (3 pages)