The Marine Mammal Climate Change Act would introduce legislation to better protect marine mammals that are threatened by the climate crisis.
"Climate is warming our oceans and impacting the ecosystems within the ocean which we all want to preserve," said Democratic Congresswoman Julia Brownley of Westlake Village, who is proposing the bill.
It's an update to existing laws which were written over 40 years ago.
Brownley points out that the time to act on climate change is now.
"If we don't start addressing the climate crisis, we will hit a point in time when the damage that's occurring will be irreversible," said Brownley.
Brownley says the legislation is necessary to mitigate the harm posed by warming ocean waters,
"Our economy and our communities really thrive on our ports and our harbors and fisheries and tourism," said Brownley.
"Most importantly that whole life that happens underwater, we have to concern ourselves with and make sure it's healthy," she said.
