Federal RuleAug 21
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RuleLabor DepartmentFederal Contract Compliance Programs OfficeSignificant Wallet
119-hr-7332119th CongressWALLET
Whale CHARTS Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
In Committee
Summary
This bill would create a comprehensive program for _mapping, surveying, monitoring, and mitigating_ risks to migratory whales and other large cetaceans. It shifts an existing program toward high-accuracy distribution maps, detection technology development, grant funding, and coordination with navigation systems and stock assessments.
Show full summary
- Mariners and vessel operators gain machine-readable distribution and predictive maps designed to work with NOAA navigation products and coordinated carriage requirements to help reduce vessel strikes and other vessel-related risks.
- Scientists and managers get new data and processes for understudied stocks, required distribution maps, and a set review cadence that begins within 3 years and recurs every 3 years to guide surveys and assessments.
- Small U.S. fishing, tourism, and maritime businesses and tech developers can compete for grants run by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation that prioritize detection tech, coexistence approaches, and projects that reduce lethal interactions; the grant program is authorized at $10.0 million.
*Would authorize about $18.0 million in new funding through 2026–2030, including $10.0 million for the grant program, thereby increasing federal outlays.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Grants for whale detection technology
If enacted, the bill would create a competitive grant program run through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to fund detection, outreach, and coexistence work. The program would be authorized $10,000,000 in total, with grant money to remain available until spent. The Foundation could use up to 5% or $80,000 each year for administration, and the agency would send advance payments on October 1 after a cooperative agreement. Grants would generally go to U.S. persons and eligible entities like states, tribes, nonprofits, researchers, individuals, and consortia.
High-accuracy whale maps and surveys
If enacted, the Under Secretary would produce high-accuracy and predictive maps for migratory whales and other large cetaceans in U.S. waters and run targeted surveys of understudied stocks. Maps must show habitat uses (calving, mating, feeding, migrations), state scientific certainty, and use novel data sources. Maps and data would be machine-readable, usable in vessel navigation systems, published on a public platform, and coordinated with the Coast Guard. Funding is authorized at $2,000,000 per year for mapping and $1,000,000 per year for surveys for fiscal years 2026–2030, with map reviews within 3 years and triennially thereafter.
Near real-time whale monitoring
If enacted, the bill would set up a coordinated near real-time monitoring and mitigation subprogram for large cetaceans to reduce vessel strike risk and related harms. The Under Secretary would work with other federal agencies to design and deploy the system and share location information to warn vessels. The Subprogram would be authorized $5,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026–2030.
Program broadened to more whales
If enacted, the bill would expand prior program language from narrow near-real-time monitoring of threatened or endangered cetaceans to broader mapping, surveying, monitoring, and mitigation for migratory whales and other large cetaceans. This would widen the species covered and the types of activities the program may do. That could increase protections and monitoring for whales but also raise new expectations or operational interactions for vessel operators and maritime businesses.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
NY • R
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]
OR • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]
FL • R
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3]
MD • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
GA • R
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
OR • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5]
FL • R
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Del. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large]
AS • R
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Del. King-Hinds, Kimberlyn [R-MP-At Large]
MP • R
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
FL • R
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
VA • R
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
WA • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large]
GU • R
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]
SC • R
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40]
CA • R
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/17/2026
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 2/17/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov