HR 7332: Whale CHARTS Act of 2026

HR 7332 in plain English: The Whale CHARTS Act of 2026 would direct federal funding toward whale conservation and tracking efforts, authorizing specific amounts for various programs and a grant program under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

Stated purpose

The bill aims to expand an existing federal program to map, survey, monitor, and reduce risks to migratory whales and other large ocean mammals, building on a prior law that focused mainly on real-time tracking of threatened or endangered cetaceans.

Key points

• Authorizes $2,000,000 per year (FY2026–2030) for one designated whale conservation activity
• Authorizes $1,000,000 per year (FY2026–2030) for a second designated program activity
• Authorizes $5,000,000 per year (FY2026–2030) for a third designated program activity
• Authorizes $10,000,000 for a grant program, available until expended
• Caps administrative expenses for the grant program at 5 percent or $80,000, whichever is greater

Arguments supporters make

• Expanding the program to cover all migratory whales, not just those already listed as threatened or endangered, helps protect species before they reach a crisis point.
• Better mapping and detection technology gives vessel operators clearer, more accurate information to avoid whale strikes, making safety measures more practical and effective.
• The bill has broad bipartisan support, suggesting it balances conservation goals with the interests of coastal and maritime communities.

Arguments opponents make

• Expanding the scope of the program to more species and activities could significantly increase costs to federal agencies and, ultimately, taxpayers, without a clear funding plan in the bill text.
• New mitigation requirements on vessel operators could add regulatory burdens on the shipping, fishing, or energy industries that operate in whale habitats.
• Broadening the program's focus beyond already-threatened species may spread limited resources thinner, potentially weakening protections for the most at-risk whales.

Tradeoffs

Covering more whale species and adding mapping and detection activities may improve conservation outcomes but requires more federal resources and could impose new obligations on maritime industries; focusing broadly risks diluting protections for the most endangered animals, while a narrow focus leaves other species vulnerable.

Current status in Congress: In committee.

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