SHARKED Act of 2025

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Bill ID: 119/hr/207
Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Sponsored by

Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]

ID: W000804

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

January 22, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

Floor Action

Passed House

Senate Review

📍 Current Status

Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the 119th Congress. The SHARKED Act of 2025 - because what's more pressing than sharks? I mean, who needs healthcare reform or climate action when we can tackle the scourge of shark depredation?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The bill establishes a task force to study and address shark depredation (read: sharks eating fish that humans want to eat). The real purpose is to create a bureaucratic behemoth, complete with a 7-year sunset clause, ensuring a steady stream of funding for "research" and "education." It's a classic case of "we need more studies" - code for "we're too afraid to make actual decisions."

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill creates a task force comprising representatives from various fishery management councils, researchers, and other stakeholders. They'll develop ways to improve coordination, identify research priorities, and recommend management strategies. Oh, and they'll produce reports every two years - because what's more thrilling than reading about shark depredation?

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects: fishermen, fishery management councils, researchers, and coastal states. But let's be real, the only ones who truly matter are the lobbyists representing the fishing industry and the "researchers" angling for grants.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. It won't address the root causes of shark depredation (overfishing, habitat destruction, climate change). Instead, it'll create a new layer of bureaucracy, waste taxpayer dollars on "research," and provide a convenient distraction from real environmental issues.

Diagnosis: This bill is suffering from a bad case of " politician-itis" - a disease characterized by an inability to address actual problems, instead opting for feel-good measures that sound good in campaign speeches. The symptoms include:

* A complete lack of understanding of the underlying issues * An overreliance on bureaucratic solutions * A failure to address the root causes of the problem * A healthy dose of self-serving grandstanding

Treatment: Apply a strong dose of skepticism, followed by a healthy serving of ridicule and scorn. Repeat as necessary until politicians learn to tackle real problems instead of creating legislative theater.

Related Topics

Civil Rights & Liberties Transportation & Infrastructure National Security & Intelligence Congressional Rules & Procedures Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Small Business & Entrepreneurship State & Local Government Affairs Government Operations & Accountability Federal Budget & Appropriations
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (house personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$151,800
19 donors
PACs
$6,600
Organizations
$6,600
Committees
$0
Individuals
$138,600
1
THE CHICKASAW NATION
2 transactions
$6,600
1
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
1 transaction
$3,300
2
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS
1 transaction
$3,300

No committee contributions found

1
KEHOE, MICHAEL PATRICK
1 transaction
$13,200
2
GIFFORD, BILLY
2 transactions
$13,200
3
PAYNE, DANIEL E.
2 transactions
$13,200
4
CASEY, ARTHUR S.
2 transactions
$13,200
5
KILMER, ANDREA
2 transactions
$13,200
6
KANTNER, CHRIS
1 transaction
$6,600
7
HOLLAND, BRIAN K.
1 transaction
$6,600
8
HOLLAND, JENNIFER
1 transaction
$6,600
9
MCCONN, RICHARD
1 transaction
$6,600
10
MADERA, PAUL
1 transaction
$6,600
11
SHAH, RAJ
1 transaction
$6,600
12
THOMPSON, BRUCE
1 transaction
$6,600
13
WITTERSHEIM, RAYMOND
1 transaction
$6,600
14
KELLY, SUSAN
1 transaction
$6,600
15
SCHWARZMAN, STEPHEN A.
1 transaction
$6,600
16
SCHWARZMAN, CHRISTINE H.
1 transaction
$6,600

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 4 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11]

ID: W000806

Top Contributors

10

1
SILVERMAN, JEFFREY
Individual SURFSIDE, FL
$6,600
Apr 18, 2024
2
BRADLEY, JACQUELINE
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual KESWICK, VA
$6,600
Apr 15, 2024
3
SILVERMAN, JEFFREY
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual SURFSIDE, FL
$6,600
Feb 15, 2024
4
FILBURN, MARK
WHITESTONE CONSTRUCTION PRESIDENT
Individual LONGWOOD, FL
$3,400
Jun 26, 2024
5
FILBURN, MARK
Individual LONGWOOD, FL
$3,400
Sep 4, 2024
6
ASNESS, CLIFF
AQR EXECUTIVE
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Jun 6, 2024
7
ASNESS, LAUREL
MARCUM LLP EXECUTIVE
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Jun 6, 2024
8
BEUCHER, NICK
CEO TAVISTOCK FINANCIAL CORPORATION
Individual ORLANDO, FL
$3,300
May 28, 2024
9
BRADLEY, JACQUELINE
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual KESWICK, VA
$3,300
Apr 18, 2024
10
DEVORE, DEBBIE
SEA & SHORELINE ACCOUNTANT
Individual WINTER GARDEN, FL
$3,300
May 31, 2024

Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]

ID: S001200

Top Contributors

10

1
ACROSS THE AISLE PAC
PAC WASHINGTON, DC
$1,000
Jan 12, 2023
2
TED LIEU FOR CONGRESS
CCM LOS ANGELES, CA
$1,000
Mar 30, 2023
3
ACROSS THE AISLE PAC
PAC WASHINGTON, DC
$500
Mar 23, 2023
4
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
Organization CHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Oct 24, 2024
5
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
Organization ATMORE, AL
$3,300
Mar 28, 2023
6
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
Organization ATMORE, AL
$3,300
Jun 7, 2024
7
SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA
Organization HOLLYWOOD, FL
$3,300
Jul 31, 2024
8
SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA
Organization HOLLYWOOD, FL
$3,300
Aug 18, 2023
9
CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF GRAND RONDE
Organization GRAND RONDE, OR
$1,000
Mar 3, 2023
10
COOPER, MILTON
KIMCO CHAIRMAN
Individual OLD WESTBURY, NY
$3,300
Nov 1, 2024

Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]

ID: V000131

Top Contributors

10

1
ALABAMA-COUSHATTA TRIBE
Organization LIVINGSTON, TX
$1,000
Sep 26, 2024
2
BGR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, LLC
Organization WASHINGTON, DC
$500
Mar 5, 2024
3
LAW OFFICE OF FREDERICK GRAEFE PLLC
Organization WASHINGTON, DC
$500
Sep 21, 2023
4
BILLINGSLEY, LINDSAY
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual DALLAS, TX
$3,300
Dec 23, 2023
5
ENGLANDER, MARTY
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual FORT WORTH, TX
$3,300
Oct 13, 2023
6
ENGLANDER, MARTY
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual FORT WORTH, TX
$3,300
Oct 13, 2023
7
FINLEY, JAMES D.
FINLEY RESOURCES, INC. OWNER/CEO
Individual FT WORTH, TX
$3,300
Dec 31, 2023
8
FINLEY, JAMES D.
FINLEY RESOURCES, INC. OWNER/CEO
Individual FT WORTH, TX
$3,300
Dec 31, 2023
9
FLOWERS, BRIAN
SELF PHYSICIAN
Individual WESTLAKE, TX
$3,300
Nov 6, 2023
10
FLOWERS, BRIAN
SELF PHYSICIAN
Individual WESTLAKE, TX
$3,300
Nov 6, 2023

Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]

ID: D000032

Top Contributors

10

1
SHANNON GREEN COLLECTION
Organization NAPLES, FL
$500
Dec 28, 2023
2
NAPLES SMART, LLC
Organization NAPLES, FL
$250
Jun 4, 2024
3
COX, JOE B
NELSON MULLINS ATTORNEY
Individual NAPLES, FL
$6,600
Dec 30, 2023
4
STALLINGS, KYLE
DESERT ROYALTY COMPANY FOUNDER/CEO
Individual MIDLAND, TX
$6,600
Mar 9, 2023
5
ZALIK, DAVID
GOLDMAN SACHS EXECUTIVE
Individual MARIETTA, GA
$6,600
Jan 3, 2024
6
ZALIK, HELEN
HOMEMAKER HOMEMAKER
Individual ATLANTA, GA
$6,600
Jan 6, 2024
7
BAUM, DAVID
ENTREPRENEUR ENTREPRENEUR
Individual SANIBEL, FL
$6,600
Feb 13, 2024
8
WALDRIP, EMORY
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual NAPLES, FL
$6,600
May 20, 2023
9
MANDELBLATT, DANIELLE
DMM PROPRIETA MANAGEMENT MANAGER
Individual ASPEN, CO
$6,600
Jun 7, 2024
10
MANDELBLATT, ERIC
SOROBAN CAPITAL PARTNERS LP MANAGING PARTNER
Individual ASPEN, CO
$6,600
Jun 7, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 34 nodes and 36 connections

Total contributions: $183,450

Top Donors - Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]

Showing top 19 donors by contribution amount

1 PAC2 Orgs16 Individuals