Direct the Coast Guard to evaluate innovative technologies for whale tracking and alerts.

Sam T. Liccardo · California · Democratic

policy impact 3.00 specificity 5.00 extraction confidence 97%

Commitment kind: action. Promised action: Ask agencies to identify where AIS messaging can support whale-safety alerts and whether whale detection programs can transmit information directly to mariners.. Promised outcome: Federal agencies evaluate and enable technology-based whale tracking and alert systems for mariners.. Deadline: unknown; not assumed expired. U.S. Representative for California's 16th District; bipartisan request to the U.S. Coast Guard, FCC, and NOAA regarding whale-safety technology.

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Occurrences

The Secretary, in coordination with the Under Secretary and the Commandant, shall evaluate for potential use under the pilot program, and, as appropriate, adopt for such use, new and emerging technologies to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and responsiveness of the Cetacean Desk, including technologies capable of ... improving the detection, identification, tracking, or forecasting of large cetacean presence ...

Requires evaluation and possible adoption of new technologies for detecting, tracking, forecasting, and communicating whale presence.

save-willy-act-of-2026.pdf
primary · other · model gpt-5.4-mini

Liccardo and his cosigners request the agencies identify areas where AIS messaging could support voluntary speed reductions messages, determine whether existing whale detection programs can transmit information directly to mariners through AIS, and identify ways to streamline approval timelines while maintaining navigation and spectrum safeguards.

Liccardo and cosigners asked federal agencies to evaluate where AIS messaging and existing whale detection programs could support whale alerts and speed-reduction messages.

Liccardo Leads Bipartisan Push to Bring Whale Alerts to West Coast Mariners | Congressman Sam Liccardo
primary · press_release · model gpt-5.5

Evidence

unverified · Source version 88871 · locator unknown

Last Action Date Listed: April 22, 2026. Action: Mr. Liccardo introduced the bill; it was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): Liccardo introduced the Save Willy Act in the House, but the bill was only referred to committee and has no recorded enactment or later movement in the lookback window.

unresolved same_term A for effort

H.R. 8450 (IH) - Save Willy Act of 2026 - BILLS-119hr8450ih | Content Details | GovInfo
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 97%

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unverified · Source version 17404 · locator unknown

The bill would require a pilot program and direct the Secretary, with Coast Guard concurrence, to evaluate new and emerging technologies for detecting, identifying, tracking, or forecasting large cetacean presence.

Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): The bill text shows Liccardo proposed Coast Guard involvement in evaluating whale-tracking and alert technologies, but this is still a proposal rather than implemented policy.

unresolved same_term A for effort

save-willy-act-of-2026.pdf
primary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 95%

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unverified · Source version 52569 · locator unknown

Mr. Liccardo ... introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): GovInfo bill text shows Liccardo introduced the Save Willy Act, but the official text is still the introduced-in-House version referred to committee, not an enacted directive.

unresolved same_term A for effort

H.R. 8450 Introduced in House - Save Willy Act of 2026 | GovInfo Bill Text
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 97%

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verified · Source version 52569 · locator 3711

shall evaluate for potential use under the pilot program, and, as appropriate, adopt for such use, new and emerging technologies

Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): The introduced bill contains the promised Coast Guard technology-evaluation language, including new and emerging technologies for whale detection, tracking, forecasting, data sharing, and vessel alerts.

unresolved same_term A for effort

H.R. 8450 Introduced in House - Save Willy Act of 2026 | GovInfo Bill Text
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 96%

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verified · Source version 88871 · locator 1189

Last Action Date Listed April 22, 2026

Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): Current GovInfo metadata still lists the last action as April 22, 2026, indicating no official post-introduction movement found in the lookback window.

unresolved same_term A for effort

H.R. 8450 (IH) - Save Willy Act of 2026 - BILLS-119hr8450ih | Content Details | GovInfo
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 96%

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unverified · Source version 52572 · locator unknown

704 | Version 1 | Liccardo (CA) | Democrat | Establishes a pilot program to create a cetacean desk at the Coast Guard in the San Francisco Bay region to reduce whale and vessel strikes. | Submitted

Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): House Rules records show Liccardo also submitted a related NDAA amendment for a Coast Guard San Francisco Bay cetacean desk, but its status was only submitted, not made in order or enacted here.

unresolved same_term A for effort

H.R. 3838 - Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution | House of Representatives Committee on Rules
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 90%

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Assessments

Public state: unverified As of unknown · legacy_unverified · . Original AI recommendation (not independently established): never. unknown A for effort

Liccardo introduced the Save Willy Act, which would have required Coast Guard-involved evaluation of new whale-tracking and alert technologies, but the bill was only referred to committee and there is no evidence of enactment or implementation. That is a serious legislative attempt, but the promised outcome was not delivered.

provider codex_cli · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 98%

Public state: unverified As of unknown · legacy_unverified · . Original AI recommendation (not independently established): never. same_term A for effort

Liccardo introduced the Save Willy Act of 2026, which would direct the relevant federal officials, with Coast Guard concurrence, to evaluate whale-tracking and alert technologies. However, the evidence shows the bill was only introduced and referred to committee as of April 22, 2026, with no enactment or implemented Coast Guard directive. This is a serious legislative attempt toward the promised outcome, but the promised federal action has not been delivered.

provider codex_cli · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 96%