H.R. 9436 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House Sep 1, 2026. Received Sep 14, 2026; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryDelays new rules for whale-safe fishing gear
The government currently has until 2028 to write new rules requiring lobster and crab fishermen to use fishing gear designed to prevent endangered whales from getting tangled in their nets and traps. This bill pushes that deadline back to 2035, giving the National Marine Fisheries Service more time to develop and issue the new regulations.
How it affects you
If you're a lobsterman or crab fisher in the Northeast, this gives you seven extra years before you'll need to switch to whale-safe fishing gear. The change means a longer timeline before new requirements take effect, though the goal of protecting endangered Atlantic large whales from entanglement remains the same.
Read the official summary (Reported to House, Aug 27, 2026)
Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act of 2026
This bill extends the deadline from 2028 to 2035 for the National Marine Fisheries Service to issue new regulations that protect the endangered Atlantic large whale from certain lobster and crab fishing gear. Under current law, the new regulations must include requirements for the American lobster and Jonah crab fisheries to utilize existing and innovative fishing gear technologies as appropriate to reduce the risk of whales becoming entangled in their gear.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
2nd SessionH. R. 9436
AN ACT
Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act of 2026
Sponsor: Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY-17) · Introduced Jun 24, 2026 · Animals · 4 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Sep 14, 2026: “Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsHouse · On Passage · Sep 1, 2026
Passage Passed 219–196
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 10 | 193 | 10 |
| Independents | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Republicans | 209 | 2 | 7 |
12 members voted against most of their party: 10 Democrats voted Yes and 2 Republicans voted No.
Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.