Attacks on Critically Endangered Whales Continue in Subcommittee Spending Bill

Defenders of Wildlife condemns the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies spending bill before the Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. Among other provisions, the CJS bill bars any funding from being used to enforce any future vessel speed restrictions to protect the critically endangered Rice’s whale and North Atlantic right whale. NOAA would also be prevented from implementing a proposed critical habitat designation for Rice’s whale — as well as “any successor rule or regulation” on the topic.

“Fewer than 100 Rice’s whales exist on the planet, and this bill prevents any money from being used to stop them from being brutally maimed or killed by speeding vessels,” said Daniel Moss, Senior Government Relations Representative for Defenders of Wildlife. “These latest legislative attacks are yet another volley by the same anti-wildlife members of Congress who seek to eviscerate the Marine Mammal Protection Act under the guise of reauthorizing landmark conservation law. The travesty is that there will be real world consequences in the form of marine mammal extinctions if these bills are not defeated.”

The bill aims to provide Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies a total budget of $76,824 billion, including just $1 million for the Marine Mammal Commission. Poison pill riders in the bill would prevent funds from being used for:

• Enforcement of any new speed restrictions to stop vessel strikes with Rice’s whales or North Atlantic right whales.
• Designation of critical habitat for the Rice’s whale.
• Blocking of funding for the Coastal Zone Management Program.

The budget will be subject of a subcommittee meeting at noon on Tuesday, July 15.