Save Willy Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8450 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8450 To require a pilot program to enhance existing efforts to mitigate vessel impacts on large cetaceans in the San Francisco Bay region, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 22, 2026 Mr. Liccardo (for himself, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Garamendi, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Garcia of California, Mr. Hernandez, Mr. Levin, and Mr. Lieu) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require a pilot program to enhance existing efforts to mitigate vessel impacts on large cetaceans in the San Francisco Bay region, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Save Willy Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM TO ENHANCE EFFORTS TO MITIGATE VESSEL IMPACTS ON LARGE CETACEANS IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY REGION. (a) Establishment.-- (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, with the concurrence of the Under Secretary, shall carry out a pilot program to establish a Cetacean Desk, which shall be-- (A) located and manned within the San Francisco Vessel Traffic Service; and (B) designed-- (i) to improve coordination with the maritime industry to reduce the risk of vessel impacts on large cetaceans in the San Francisco Bay and the strait of Golden Gate, including impacts from vessel strikes, disturbances, and other sources; and (ii) to monitor the presence and location of large cetaceans in the San Francisco Bay and the strait of Golden Gate. (2) Duration and staffing.--The pilot program-- (A)