119th Congress · introduced in the House · Oct 9, 2026
SWIMS Act of 2026
Official title from Congress.gov
Latest action (Oct 9, 2026): 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.
View on Congress.govPolicy area: Animals
Congressional Research Service summary, version: Introduced in House (Oct 9, 2026)
Strengthening Welfare in Marine Settings Act of 2026 or the SWIMS Act of 2026
This bill establishes prohibitions on capturing, importing, exporting, or breeding of orcas, beluga whales, false killer whales, or pilot whales for the purpose of public display.
Specifically, the bill prohibits the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from issuing any permit under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 that authorizes the taking (e.g., capturing) or importation of such orcas or whales for the purpose of public display. The bill further revises the act to make it unlawful to export such orcas or whales, unless they are being transported to marine mammal sanctuaries or for release into the wild.
Further, the bill makes it unlawful under the Animal Welfare Act for any person to breed or artificially inseminate such marine mammals for purposes of using their progeny for public display.
Includes amendment, cloture, and procedural votes. Each is labeled with its exact question; only a passage question is a vote to pass the bill.
No recorded roll calls on this bill in coverage.
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.
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
Introduced in House
Actions from Congress.gov, newest first.
LD-2 reports whose issue descriptions explicitly cite this bill (bill type and number validated against Congress.gov records). A citation does not establish the client's position or any contact with a member.
Loading lobbying reportsCoverage: reports for 2025 onward, posted Jan 1, 2025 through Oct 23, 2026.
1 citation.
ZOOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA · lobbying firm or registrant: HANKA ADVISOR LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 19, 2026 · issue area: Animals
$10,000
Paid to lobbying firm
…elated to captive bred animals H.R. 3112 / S. 1538, Better Care for Animals Act, all provisions H.R. 3199 / S. 1594, Captive Primate Safety Act, all provisions HR 10774, SWIMS Act, all provisions USDA/APHIS renewal of APHISs recordkeeping and reporting requirements for birds USDA/APHIS August 2026 bird import protocol guidance
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing