July 2, 2026
Mr. Webster of Florida (for himself and Ms. Wasserman Schultz) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on alternative habitat for certain manatees, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Study and Assessment of Future Ecosystems for Manatees Act
or the SAFE for Manatees Act
.
Sec. 2. Study on alternative habitat for certain manatees
(a) Study
The Secretary shall conduct a study on locations that could function as habitat for manatees that are currently utilizing areas in Florida around coastal industrial sites subject to decommissioning actions that will affect water temperatures in such areas.
(b) Requirements
In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—
(1)
identify and assess locations that could function as habitat for manatees described in subsection (a), including—
(A)
locations of natural warm water not currently used by manatees; and
(B)
locations where artificial warm water refugia for manatees could be constructed; and
(2)
develop, in consultation with the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, potential methods to create artificial warm water refugia for manatees described in subsection (a) and plans for the construction of such refugia.
(c) Coordination
In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall coordinate with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
(d) Report
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall make publicly available a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).
(e) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Manatee
The term manatee
means a member of the species trichechus manatus.
(2) Secretary
The term Secretary
means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.