Bill · H.R. 7332· House(119-HR-7332)
Whale CHARTS Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 2/3/2026
- Last activity
- 7/21/2026 — Subcommittee Hearings Held
- Sponsored by
- Doris Matsui
- Cosponsors
- - 12 - 13
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Whale CHARTS Act of 2026," seeks to amend the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023. It establishes a program focused on mapping, surveying, monitoring, and mitigating risks for migratory whales and other large cetaceans. The legislation directs the creation of high-accuracy distribution maps and conducts surveys for understudied species. Additionally, it creates a competitive grant program to develop detection technologies and reduce harmful interactions between ocean users and whales. A near real-time monitoring and mitigation subprogram is also established to reduce risks from vessel collisions.
Yes· 3 of 4
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+7
The bill establishes programs to map, monitor, and mitigate risks to migratory whales and other large cetaceans.
Does this put more money into scientific research?+6
The bill funds research into novel data sources and innovative methodologies for whale detection and distribution modeling.
Would business owners be better off under this?+5
The grant program specifically prioritizes ocean-user industries like fishing and tourism that may benefit from new detection technologies.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Enhanced Safety and Information for Ocean Users: The bill requires the creation of distribution maps in machine-readable formats that can be integrated into on-board vessel navigation systems, which could help people navigate more safely (Section 2(a)(10)(v)(i)(aa)).
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Economic Benefits for Small Businesses: The grant program gives priority to applications that demonstrate the potential to provide economic benefits to small businesses that rely on fishing, tourism, and maritime-related activities (Section 2(a)(5)(6)(C)).
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Support for Research and Innovation: Through a competitive grant program, eligible entities can receive funds to research and develop innovative detection technologies and on-the-water approaches to support the coexistence of ocean users and whales (Section 2(a)(5)(5)).
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Public Access to Environmental Data: The Under Secretary is required to make distribution maps available through an online platform for the general public (Section 2(a)(10)(v)(i)(aa)(BB)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Potential Regulatory Burdens for Vessel Operators: The bill allows for the creation of distribution maps that may be used in coordination with the Coast Guard to set carriage requirements for commercial or recreational vessels (Section 2(a)(10)(v)(i)(aa)(CC)).
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Restrictions on Grant Fund Distribution: Under the grant program, eligible entities are prohibited from using funds to distribute resources to any entity or individual that is not a United States person (Section 2(a)(5)(7)(A)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+7
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+6
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+5
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+5
- 7/21/2026
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 7/14/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
- 2/17/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 2/9/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 2/4/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
- 2/3/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 21 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Gus BilirakisRepublican · Florida
Vern BuchananRepublican · Florida
Suzanne BonamiciDemocrat · Oregon
Julia BrownleyDemocrat · California
Earl CarterRepublican · Georgia
Maxine DexterDemocrat · Oregon
Sarah ElfrethDemocrat · Maryland
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Jared HuffmanDemocrat · California
Raja KrishnamoorthiDemocrat · Illinois
Young KimRepublican · California
Jennifer KiggansRepublican · Virginia
Kimberlyn King-HindsRepublican · Northern Mariana Islands
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York
George LatimerDemocrat · New York
Nancy MaceRepublican · South Carolina
Nicole MalliotakisRepublican · New York
Seth MoultonDemocrat · Massachusetts
James MoylanRepublican · Guam
Frank PalloneDemocrat · New Jersey
Mike QuigleyDemocrat · Illinois
Aumua Amata RadewagenRepublican · American Samoa
John RutherfordRepublican · Florida
Adam SmithDemocrat · Washington
Thomas SuozziDemocrat · New York