Why It Matters
The House passed H.R. 9436 in a sharply divided vote on September 1, with Republicans largely backing an extension of the Trump administration's preferred timeline for protecting the North Atlantic right whale.
The North Atlantic right whale stands at approximately 380 individuals, with only about 70 breeding females remaining. The species faces existential threats from entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes.
The Path to Passage
Two hearings were held on the measure before it reached the floor. The Trump administration signaled support early, issuing a Statement of Administration Policy backing the predecessor bill, H.R. 8509, on May 1. Administration officials made clear they supported extending the moratorium on North Atlantic right whale fishing regulations from 2028 to 2035, effectively siding with commercial fishing interests. In May, the administration backed a proposal by Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) to delay the federal protections.
The other side: Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA-2) argued that the bill would "prematurely extend a waiver from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), actively risking the extinction of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale." Rep. Huffman supported an amendment that would help move U.S. fisheries and the North Atlantic right whale toward ropeless gear technology.
The Vote and Partisan Divide
Republicans voted overwhelmingly for passage: 209 Republicans voted yes, with only 2 voting no. Democrats largely opposed it, with 193 voting no and 10 voting yes. One Independent voted no.
They cited the fishing industry's removal of 30,000 miles of rope as evidence of existing conservation efforts, arguing that voluntary measures could protect the whale without imposing new restrictions.
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