You did it, Safe Shippers!

All four Orca Emergency Response Bills have passed out of the Washington State House and Senate!

Thank you for your time and efforts to contact our representatives – they heard you ask for better protection of our Salish Sea.

Here’s the scoreboard for these bills – all addressing the protection and recovery of Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) per the recommendations from the Governor’s SRKW Recovery and Task Force:

ESHB 1578 – Reducing threats to southern resident killer whales by improving the safety of oil transportation

Passed out of the House on March 7 (yeas 70; nays 28). Passed out of the Senate on April 10 (yeas 32; nays 13; excused 4).

SB 5918 – Providing whale watching guidelines in the boating safety education program 

Passed out of the Senate on March 7 (yeas 48; nays 0; excused 1). Passed out of the House on April 7 (yeas 90; nays 5; excused 3).

2SSB 5577 – Concerning the protection of southern resident orca whales from vessels

Passed out of the Senate on March 7 (yeas 46; nays 3). Passed out of the House on April 15 (yeas 84; nays 13; excused 1).

SSB 5135 – Preventing toxic pollution that affects public health or the environment

Passed out of the Senate on March 7 (yeas 25; nays 24). Passed out of the House on April 15 (yeas 60; nays 37; excused 1).

Way to go, Safe Shippers! The orcas thank you!