H.R. 10776 – To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to change certain requirement…

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Updated October 14, 2026 at 4:51 AM UTC

The bill revises the Marine Mammal Protection Act to tighten the rules on when and how marine mammals can be taken (caught, harassed, or killed). It changes several definitions, removes language about “potential” injury or “small numbers,” adds a definition of “negligible impact,” and requires that all decisions be based strictly on the best scientific and commercial data without precautionary assumptions. The changes affect the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, any companies or individuals conducting activities that might affect marine mammals, and the marine mammals themselves.

Key Provisions

Updates the definition of “injury” and “disturbance” to refer to actual effects, and eliminates language about potential injury or disturbance.
Adds a new definition of “negligible impact” meaning an impact unlikely to significantly affect a species’ survival rate.
Removes limits on the duration and size of take activities (e.g., “small numbers,” five‑year periods) and requires the Secretary to set practicable, economically feasible conditions to minimize impact, without changing the basic design or timing of the activity.
Eliminates references to “least practicable adverse impact” and other precautionary language in the moratorium and take provisions.
Creates a new Section 121 that mandates all MMPA decisions be based solely on the objective application of the best scientific and commercial data, prohibiting the use of precautionary factors or biased assumptions.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

October 9, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 9, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

October 9, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued October 9, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10776

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 9, 2026

Mr. Ezell introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to change certain requirements regarding certain allowed take of marine mammals, and for other purposes.

1.

Amendments to Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972

(a)

Definitions

Section 3 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1362) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (18)—

(A)

in subparagraph (A)—

(i)

in clause (i), by striking has the potential to injure and inserting injures; and

(ii)

in clause (ii), by striking has the potential to disturb and inserting disturbs; and

(B)

in subparagraph (B)—

(i)

in clause (i), by striking or has the significant potential to injure; and

(ii)

in clause (ii), by striking or is likely to disturb; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(30)

The term negligible impact means an impact that is not reasonably likely to significantly and adversely affect the applicable species or stock through an effect on the annual rate of survival of the applicable species or stock.

.

(b)

Moratorium on taking and importing marine mammals and marine mammal products

Section 101(a)(5) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1371(a)(5)) is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (A)—

(A)

in clause (i)—

(i)

by striking , during periods of not more than five consecutive years each,;

(ii)

by striking small numbers of;

(iii)

in subclause (I), by striking during each five-year (or less) period concerned; and

(iv)

in subclause (II)—

(I)

by inserting — after setting forth;

(II)

in item (aa)—

(aa)

by striking permissible methods of taking pursuant to such activity, and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact and inserting as the Secretary determines appropriate, practicable and economically feasible conditions to be implemented by the citizens engaged in the activity to minimize the impact of such taking; and

(bb)

by striking and at the end;

(III)

in item (bb), to read as follows:

(bb)

efficient and practicable requirements pertaining to the—

(AA)

monitoring of such taking while the activity is being engaged in; and

(BB)

reporting of such taking; and

; and

(IV)

by adding at the end the following:

(cc)

that any condition or requirement imposed pursuant to item (aa) or (bb), respectively, shall not alter the basic design, location, scope, duration, or timing of the activity.

;

(B)

by striking clause (ii);

(C)

in clause (iii), by striking of least practicable adverse impact on such species or stock; and

(D)

by redesignating clauses (iii) and (iv) as clauses (ii) and (iii), respectively;

(2)

in subparagraph (D)—

(A)

in clause (i), by striking small numbers of; and

(B)

in clause (ii)—

(i)

in subclause (I)—

(I)

by striking permissible methods of taking by harassment pursuant to such activity, and other means of effecting the least practicable impact and inserting as the Secretary determines appropriate, practicable and economically feasible conditions to be implemented by the citizens engaged in the activity to minimize the impact of such taking by harassment; and

(II)

by striking the comma at the end and inserting a semicolon;

(ii)

in subclause (II), by striking , and and inserting a semicolon;

(iii)

in subclause (III)—

(I)

by striking requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking by harassment, including and inserting efficient and practicable requirements pertaining to the monitoring of such taking by harassment while the activity is being engaged in and the reporting of such taking by harassment, including, as the Secretary determines necessary,; and

(II)

by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and;

(iv)

by adding at the end the following:

(IV)

that any condition, measure, or requirement imposed pursuant to subclause (I), (II), or (III), respectively, shall not alter the basic design, location, scope, duration, or timing of the specified activity.

; and

(v)

in clause (vi), by striking of least practicable adverse impact on such species or stock; and

(3)

in subparagraph (F)—

(A)

in clause (i), by striking of small numbers; and

(B)

in clause (iii), by striking , of small numbers,.

(c)

Objective application of best scientific and commercial data available

(1)

In general

Title I of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1371 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

121.

Objective application of best scientific and commercial data available

Each decision, determination, and finding made under this title shall be made based solely upon the objective application of the best scientific and commercial data available and without application of precautionary factors or assumptions or any other factors or assumptions that bias the objective application of the best scientific and commercial data available, including each decision, determination, and finding regarding—

(1)

likely marine mammal distribution or presence;

(2)

the estimated number of marine mammals in a species or stock;

(3)

the estimated population trend or status of a marine mammal species or stock;

(4)

the estimated geographic range of a marine mammal species or stock;

(5)

the occurrence, extent, quantity, and nature of take of marine mammals; and

(6)

the likelihood and extent of exposure of marine mammals to human impacts.

.

(2)

Conforming amendment

The table of contents of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 120 the following:

Sec. 121. Objective application of best scientific and commercial data available.

.