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Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House passed Rep. Young’s H.R. 844, the Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Amendments of 2009, today which builds upon the original legislation passed in 1972, the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

The Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Act of 2000 amended the MMPA by establishing the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program, or the Prescott Grant Program.  This Program is conducted by the Secretary of Commerce to provide grants or cooperative agreements to eligible stranding network participants for the recovery and treatment of stranded marine mammals,

and data collection from living or dead stranded marine mammals, facility upgrades, operation costs and staffing needs directly related to the recovery and treatment of stranded marine mammals and collection of data from living or dead stranded marine mammals.

H.R. 844, the Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Amendments of 2009, will amend the MMPA of 1972 to require the collection and updating of existing practices and procedures for rescuing and rehabilitating stranded or entangled marine mammals.  It also authorizes entanglement response agreements.

Rep. Young’s floor statement as prepared:

“Madame Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 844, the Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Amendments of 2009. This important piece of legislation continues to build upon the original legislation that this body passed in 1972, the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

“Continuing to recognize the importance of marine mammals, and the fragile state of some of their populations, Congress passed the Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Act in 2000 and created the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program.

“Keeping with the spirit of these achievements in marine mammal protection, I introduced this legislation, which builds upon our earlier successes and expands the Prescott Grant Program.  This bill will allow the Secretary of Commerce to provide grants to participants who assist in removing ropes, nets or other materials from marine mammals while at sea.

“By providing grants to institutions such as the Alaska Sealife Center, untold numbers of marine mammals have been positively impacted. Support for this bill will further invest in the health of our oceans and its numerous marine resources. Again, I urge my colleagues to support marine mammals and to pass H.R. 844.”

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