U.S. Congress legislation · 119th Congress
HB10774: SWIMS Act of 2026
Status: In committee, October 9, 2026
To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit the taking, importation, exportation, and breeding of certain cetaceans for public display, and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit the taking, importation, exportation, and breeding of certain cetaceans for public display, and for other purposes.
From the introduced text, October 9, 2026:
A BILL To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit the taking, importation, exportation, and breeding of certain cetaceans for public display, and for other purposes. SECTION 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Welfare in Marine Settings Act of 2026 or as the SWIMS Act of 2026 . SECTION 2. Findings; Sense of Congress (a) Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Certain cetaceans, namely orcas, beluga whales, false killer whales, and pilot whales are large-brained mammals who engage in creative problem solving, intentional communication, show signs of empathy for others and complex emotions, and form lifelong bonds. (2) Science increasingly supports that the species listed in paragraph (1) suffer in captivity. They die prematurely, engage in stereotypic behavior that is indicative of suffering and distress, are held in barren tanks, and are sometimes isolated from members of their own species, among other harms. (3) Current Federal laws allow the species listed in paragraph (1) to be confined in concrete tanks that fail to meet their basic psychological, physical, and social needs. (b) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the species listed in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) should not be subject to restraint, coercion, or control by any person for purposes of public …
Sponsors
- Suzan DelBene (D, HD-001) · primary sponsor
- Maxine Dexter (D)
- Suzanne Bonamici (D)
- Salud Carbajal (D)
- Ed Case (D, HD-001)
- Sean Casten (D, HD-006)
- Kathy Castor (D, HD-014)
- Yvette Clarke (D, HD-009)
- Diana DeGette (D, HD-001)
- Daniel Goldman (D, 10)
- Jared Huffman (D, HD-CA-2)
- Hoyle, Val T. (D)
Latest actions
- : Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- : Introduced in House
Subjects: Animals
Common questions
- What is HB10774?
- HB10774 is a bill in Congress (119th Congress): SWIMS Act of 2026.
- What does HB10774 do?
- In its own words: To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit the taking, importation, exportation, and breeding of certain cetaceans for public display, and for other purposes.
- What is the status of HB10774?
- In committee as of October 9, 2026. Latest action: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. (October 9, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB10774?
- Suzan DelBene (D, HD-001), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB10774?
- On the Congress website: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/10774
Source: official Congress record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.