Save Willy Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Liccardo
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a dedicated Cetacean Desk to help reduce vessel impacts on large cetaceans in the San Francisco Bay and the Strait of Golden Gate. The desk would run as a four‑year pilot inside the San Francisco Vessel Traffic Service and be staffed by up to two full‑time equivalent positions plus existing federal personnel as needed.
Show full summary
- Families of sea life and conservation groups: The desk would monitor and share real‑time sightings to help lower vessel strikes, disturbances, and other harms to baleen whales, sperm whales, and orcas.
- Vessel operators and the maritime industry: Desk personnel would engage with vessels where whales are present, communicate sightings, and support voluntary compliance with speed, buffer, and no‑go guidance.
- Coast Guard, ports, and maritime agencies: The pilot would add new SVTS duties, explore new detection and data tools, and require annual reports that quantify any reduction in vessel strikes.
- State, Tribal, academic, and NGO partners: The bill would enable real‑time data sharing agreements and required consultation to align training and communication across stakeholders.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New whale-protection desk for ships
If enacted, the bill would direct the Coast Guard to create a Cetacean Desk inside the San Francisco Vessel Traffic Service. The desk would start within one year of enactment and run as a four-year pilot with no more than two full-time staff. Desk staff would share near-real-time whale sightings with ship operators, run trainings, and work with state, Tribal, port, academic, and industry partners. The pilot would use memoranda of understanding for data sharing, evaluate new detection technologies (including automated or AI tools), allow certain local navigation variances for coordination, and require annual reports to Congress starting one year after enactment that quantify strike reductions.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Liccardo
CA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Lofgren
CA • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Khanna
CA • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]
PR • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov