WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) celebrated House passage of his bipartisan legislation to protect marine mammals, including Southern Resident killer whales.

“In the Pacific Northwest, Southern Resident killer whales are an important cultural symbol and environmental linchpin,” said Larsen. “I am encouraged by the Navy and Coast Guard’s recent efforts to work together to enhance protection of Southern Resident killer whales in Puget Sound. The POMM Act builds on this critical work by enhancing ongoing conservation, science and technology measures to protect marine mammals.”

The Protecting Our Marine Mammals (POMM) Act expands federal protections for marine mammals to include near-real time monitoring of whales, monitoring of underwater soundscapes to reduce noise impacts on marine mammals and grants for seaports to make investments to reduce vessel collisions. The bill also invests in the study of vessel quieting measures and establishes a position within the Coast Guard Puget Sound Vessel Traffic Center to better coordinate protection efforts between the Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the marine industry.

Support for the POMM Act

Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Raul Grijalva (AZ-03), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) signed on as original cosponsors of the bipartisan POMM Act.

The POMM Act also received endorsements from several key stakeholders and organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Seattle Aquarium, Friends of the San Juans, Defenders of Wildlife, the Oceanic Preservation Society, Ocean Conservation Research, the Environmental Investigation Agency, Gotham Whale, the Center for Biological Diversity and Cetacean Society International.

Larsen’s Record

Larsen, a founder and co-chair of the Congressional Estuary Caucus, has been a leading voice in Congress to protect marine mammals and ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest and across the country. Earlier this year, Larsen supported the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment to combat climate change and support green jobs in U.S. history. He also supported the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which makes bold, long-time investments to improve water infrastructure and enhance fish passage and salmon habitat. For more information on Larsen’s efforts to protect Southern Resident killer whales, click here.

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