What Happened?
Lobster and crab fishermen in New England could get until 2035, instead of 2028, before facing new federal rules to protect endangered right whales. The House voted for that delay in early September, and now it needs the Senate’s approval.
The whale bill was one of four measures the House passed that week, along with bills on college boycotts of Israel and mining permits and a resolution condemning socialism. The House Committee on Rules, led by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), set the ground rules for debating all four on Monday, Aug. 31, according to a Legis1 preview of the meeting.
Why Does It Matter To Me?
If you fish for lobster or crab off New England, the whale bill decides how long regulators must wait before requiring changes to your gear. If you go to or work at a college that takes federal student aid, the Israel bill would cut off some federal money to schools that join commercial boycotts of Israel, and require schools to promise each year that students can join academic programs there.
The mining bill would permanently let mining projects use a federal fast track for environmental reviews. The socialism resolution doesn’t change any law, but it calls for passing the SAVE America Act, which backers say would keep noncitizens from voting.
Both Sides, Now
Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), who led the whale bill, called its passage “a big win not only for fishermen in Maine, but for bipartisanship in Congress.” Conservation groups say waiting until 2035 puts a species of about 380 whales at risk, Maine Public reported. In January, a young right whale was found tangled in a single lobster trap from Massachusetts waters of Cape Cod Bay, according to a NOAA case report.
The Israel bill split Democrats. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), a cosponsor, said it protects academic freedom, while Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) called it a serious violation of the First Amendment.
What Happens Next?
The socialism resolution is finished. The other three still have to pass the Senate and be signed by the president to become law. Here’s where each stands:
- Socialism resolution (H.Res. 1490): Adopted 220-192 on Tuesday, Sept. 1, CBS News reported. It only needed a House vote.
- Whale rule delay (H.R. 9436): Passed 219-196 on Sept. 1, according to Golden. On Tuesday, Sept. 15, Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) asked the Senate Commerce Committee to take it up. The Trump administration supports it.
- Mining permits (H.R. 1501): Passed 218-201 on Wednesday, Sept. 2, per a Legis1 report on the vote.
- College boycotts of Israel (H.R. 4795): Passed 237-169 on Thursday, Sept. 3, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported.
Don’t expect movement soon. Congress is home campaigning until Monday, Nov. 9, after the election. Any bill the Senate doesn’t pass before this Congress ends in early January dies and has to start over, and if the whale bill does, new rules are still due by the end of 2028.
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