A Democratic bill with 26 Democratic cosponsors · See all 26 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Strengthening Welfare in Marine Settings Act of 2026 or the SWIMS Act of 2026. It amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Animal Welfare Act. The legislation makes it illegal to take, import, export, or breed specific cetaceans—namely orcas, beluga whales, false killer whales, and pilot whales—for the purpose of public display. The bill allows for the transport of these covered species only to a marine mammal sanctuary where it is in the best interest of the individual mammal or for release back into the wild. Congress states in the bill that these large-brained mammals suffer in captivity and should not be subject to control for public display.
Yes
- Scored +6
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The legislation enhances protections for specific marine mammals by prohibiting their capture, importation, exportation, and breeding for public display.
The opposite
- Scored -4
Would business owners be better off under this?
Businesses relying on the public display and breeding of covered cetaceans face operational restrictions.
- Scored -3
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill restricts certain marine entertainment operations by banning the breeding and acquisition of specific cetaceans for public display.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 3 amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to prohibit the exportation of orcas, beluga whales, false killer whales, and pilot whales, unless they are going to a marine mammal sanctuary in their best interest or being released to the wild. This could be seen as a positive outcome for individuals who value animal welfare, as it ensures these animals are only moved to places prioritizing their well-being and autonomy rather than profit.
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Section 3 also prohibits the Secretary from issuing any permit that authorizes the taking or importation of these specific cetaceans for public display. People who support animal protection may view this as a positive benefit because it stops the capture and bringing in of these animals specifically for entertainment.
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Section 4 amends the Animal Welfare Act to make it unlawful to breed or artificially inseminate orcas, beluga whales, false killer whales, or pilot whales to use their offspring for public display. Individuals advocating for ethical treatment of marine mammals may consider this a positive change because it halts the cycle of captivity for these species.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Section 3 creates strict prohibitions on exporting orcas, beluga whales, false killer whales, and pilot whales, allowing it only for release to the wild or transport to a sanctuary that is not used for profit or breeding for public display. For businesses or facilities that rely on public display and breeding for their operations and revenue, this could be considered a negative burden as it restricts their business practices.
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Section 4 outlaws the breeding or artificial insemination of these specific cetaceans for public display progeny. This could be seen as a negative impact for entities that profit from displaying these animals, as they will no longer be able to produce new generations of these mammals for their exhibits.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The legislation enhances protections for specific marine mammals by prohibiting their capture, importation, exportation, and breeding for public display.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Businesses relying on the public display and breeding of covered cetaceans face operational restrictions.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill restricts certain marine entertainment operations by banning the breeding and acquisition of specific cetaceans for public display.
- 11/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/19/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/9/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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.
- 23 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
4 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Suzanne BonamiciDemocrat · Oregon
Ed CaseDemocrat · Hawaii
Kathy CastorDemocrat · Florida
Yvette ClarkeDemocrat · New York
Steve CohenDemocrat · Tennessee
Salud CarbajalDemocrat · California
Sean CastenDemocrat · Illinois
Diana DeGetteDemocrat · Colorado
Maxine DexterDemocrat · Oregon
Daniel GoldmanDemocrat · New York
Jared HuffmanDemocrat · California
Val HoyleDemocrat · Oregon
Raja KrishnamoorthiDemocrat · Illinois
James McGovernDemocrat · Massachusetts
Seth MoultonDemocrat · Massachusetts
Kevin MullinDemocrat · California
Jerrold NadlerDemocrat · New York
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Adam SmithDemocrat · Washington
Mary Gay ScanlonDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Andrea SalinasDemocrat · Oregon
Dina TitusDemocrat · Nevada
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan
Jill TokudaDemocrat · Hawaii
Eugene VindmanDemocrat · Virginia
James WalkinshawDemocrat · Virginia