H.R. 9621, the Northwest Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act of 2026, advanced out of committee on September 15, 2026.
H.R. 9621 — Northwest Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act of 2026
What it does
This bill amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act to allow Washington State and federally recognized tribes with treaty fishing rights to kill harbor seals, California sea lions, and Steller sea lions in Washington's rivers and coastal waters (but not the Columbia River itself) to protect endangered and threatened salmon species. The bill creates a permit system capping lethal takings at 10% of the annual population removal level, establishes a technology program to develop non-lethal pinniped exclusion methods, and requires annual reporting to Congress on pinniped populations and salmon recovery progress.
Quorum's transparency scan gave Northwest Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act of 2026 a moderate transparency flag.
What happens next
H.R. 9621 advanced out of committee. Next stop: a floor vote.
Who is behind it
Filed by Michael Baumgartner. Cosponsored by Emily Randall.
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