Save Willy Act of 2026

This bill would require the Coast Guard's department, with agreement from the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to set up a four-year pilot program called a Cetacean Desk within the San Francisco Vessel Traffic Service within one year. The desk would have up to two full-time staff who would monitor large whales in San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate strait and tell vessel operators where and when whales have been seen. The program would evaluate and possibly adopt new technologies, including artificial intelligence tools, to track whales and share data. It would also require local vessel traffic rules to support whale reporting, consultation with Tribes, the state, ports, schools, industry, and nonprofit groups, and yearly reports to Congress.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Sam T. Liccardo Democrat sponsor
• 9 cosponsors