Manatee Protection Act of 2025

House Bill

H.R. 135

119th Congress

Manatee Protection Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 25, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Darrell E. Issa

Representative

Republican

CA-48

Cosponsors

9

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Environmental Protection

Summary

This bill requires the Interior Department to reclassify the West Indian manatee from threatened to endangered status, providing the species with stronger federal protections under the Endangered Species Act.

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill requires the Interior Department to reclassify the West Indian manatee from threatened to endangered status, providing the species with stronger federal protections under the Endangered Species Act.

Last updated: 1/5/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Manatee Protection Act of 2025This bill requires the Department of the Interior to include the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) in the endangered species list and give the species protections provided to endangered species.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Reclassifies manatees from threatened to endangered
Provides stronger ESA protections
Addresses concerns about manatee population decline
Requires enhanced habitat protection
Strengthens penalties for harming manatees

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Florida manatees would receive the highest level of federal protection as an endangered species. This responds to record manatee deaths from starvation, boat strikes, and habitat loss, particularly the loss of seagrass from water pollution.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Environmental Protection

Related Subjects

Animal protection and human-animal relationships

Endangered and threatened species

Mammals

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

135, 119th Congress (2025). "Manatee Protection Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-135