Sponsors (11)
The bill strengthens protections and government accountability for manatee habitat and coastal ecosystems—benefiting wildlife and nature-based economies—while imposing project restrictions, operational limits, and added administrative costs on agencies, developers, and some waterfront users.
Residents, local governments, and wildlife in coastal and freshwater areas will gain stronger legal protections for manatee habitat, helping preserve biodiversity and ecosystem health and the services those ecosystems provide.
People who use and depend on nature-based recreation and tourism (boaters, wildlife viewers, local tourism businesses) and rural communities that rely on those economies will benefit if measures stabilize manatee populations and sustain nature-based revenue.
Federal agencies (and the local governments that interact with them) will be required to prioritize manatee conservation in permitting and actions, increasing government accountability for protecting threatened waterways.
Utilities, energy companies, developers, contractors, and local governments may face new restrictions or delays on development, dredging, or waterway projects, increasing costs and slowing projects.
Federal and state agencies (and supporting local governments) will incur additional administrative and compliance costs and workload to implement recovery plans and consultation requirements.
Boat operators and waterfront businesses in coastal and rural areas could face new operational limits (speed zones, restricted access) that constrain activities and potentially reduce revenue or convenience.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to list the West Indian manatee as an endangered species under the ESA and adds it to the ESA list.
Official title: To designate the West Indian manatee as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and for other purposes.
Introduced January 3, 2025 by Vernon G. Buchanan · Last progress January 3, 2025
Designates the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act and directs the Secretary of the Interior to place the species on the official ESA list. The law only contains a short title and that single substantive directive; it does not create new funding or other program authorizations.