Testimony on Bills to Permit Killing Sea Lions That Eat Salmon, to Establish Voluntary Protections for the North Atlantic Right Whale, to Combat Invasive Screwworm, and to Manage Aquatic Invasive Species

House Natural Resources Committee
   Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee
1324 Longworth

07/21/2026 at 02:00PM

On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., in room 1324 Longworth House Office Building, the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries will hold a legislative hearing on the following bills:

  • H.R. 7332 (Rep. Matsui), “Whale CHARTS Act of 2026”, to direct resources to mapping the North Atlantic Right Whale after Trump admin reversal of boat speed limits in habitat
  • H.R. 7466 (Rep. Jackson of TX), “SAFE CATTLE Act”, to reallocate USDA and DOI staff and resources to combat invasive screwworm after Trump admin slashed USDA and DOI programs
  • H.R. 8876 (Rep. Walberg (R-Mich.), and Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)), “Aquatic Invasive Species Control and Prevention Act of 2026”, authorizing $20 million annually for state aquatic invasive species management programs
  • H.R. 9621 (Rep. Baumgartner), “Northwest Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act of 2026”

Hearing memo

Witnesses:

Panel I (Members of Congress)

  • To Be Announced

Panel II (Administration Witnesses)

  • Dr. Tim Petty, Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. [H.R. 7332 and H.R. 9621]

Panel III (Outside Experts)

  • Nate Pamplin, Director of External Affairs, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, WA [H.R. 9621]
  • Dr. Marc Gaden, Executive Secretary, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Ann Arbor, MI [H.R. 8876]
  • Jared L. Blankenship, State Director, District 1, Texas Farm Bureau, Hereford, TX [H.R. 7466]
  • Dr. Richard Merrick, Independent Marine Scientist, Chief Science Advisor (Ret.), NOAA Fisheries, Falmouth, MA [H.R. 7332 and H.R. 9621] [Minority Witness]