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119-hr-135119th Congress

Manatee Protection Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]

Introduced

Summary

Designates the West Indian manatee as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. This bill would require the Secretary of the Interior to add the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) to the federal endangered species list published under section 4(c) of the Act. That listing would bring the species under the Act's protective regimes. The bill also establishes the short title the Manatee Protection Act of 2025.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

New endangered-species rules in manatee areas

If enacted, this bill would list the West Indian manatee as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Interior would add the species to the federal endangered list and apply endangered-species protections. Activities in manatee habitat that harm, harass, or change habitat would likely need permits or changes. Boaters, marinas, developers, and coastal property owners in manatee areas could face new limits or costs. The status would apply regardless of other federal rules and would start upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]

FL • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/9/2025

  • Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/9/2025

  • Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 1/28/2025

  • Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 1/28/2025

  • Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2025

  • Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 5/13/2025

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 10/21/2025

  • Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]

    PR • D

    Sponsored 12/18/2025

  • Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 6/29/2026

  • Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 8/10/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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