congressional_record: CREC-2006-12-27-pt1-PgE2243-2
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| granule_id | date | congress | session | volume | issue | title | chamber | granule_class | sub_granule_class | page_start | page_end | speakers | bills | citation | full_text |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CREC-2006-12-27-pt1-PgE2243-2 | 2006-12-27 | 109 | 2 | MAGNUSON-STEVENS FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2006 | HOUSE | EXTENSIONS | ALLOTHER | E2243 | E2244 | [{"name": "Nick J. Rahall II", "role": "speaking"}] | [{"congress": "109", "type": "HR", "number": "5946"}] | 152 Cong. Rec. E2243 | Congressional Record, Volume 152 Issue 136 (Wednesday, December 27, 2006) [Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 136 (Wednesday, December 27, 2006)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E2243-E2244] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] MAGNUSON-STEVENS FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2006 ______ speech of HON. NICK J. RAHALL II of west virginia in the house of representatives Friday, December 8, 2006 Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. I yield myself such time as I may consume. The pending measure, as passed by the Senate, may be one of the last items on our schedule this Congress, but it is certainly not the least important. The bill would reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act in order to guide the management of our marine fisheries through 2013. We would not be here today if Senators Ted Stevens and Daniel Inouye had not extended an olive branch. I am extremely appreciative of the hard work that they and their staffs put into this legislation. I also commend our colleague Tom Allen who worked tirelessly on behalf of the fishermen in his district to improve this legislation. While the pending measure does not do everything I would have liked, it does not roll back the conservation principles in this important fisheries management law. The legislation actually strengthens the Magnuson-Stevens Act. For the first time, regional fishery management councils will be required to establish catch limits that may not exceed the recommendations of the councils' scientific and statistical committees. We expect the scientific committees are to take into account a wide range of scientific opinions when making their recommendations. Members of the scientific committees will be required to file financial disclosure forms with the Secretary. This requirement will enable the general public to use the Freedom of Information Act to ascertain whether the scientists are truly independent. For the most depleted fisheries in our country, the legislation will require the Secretary of Commerce to prepare and implement a rebuilding plan that puts an end to overfishing immediately. This is a significant improvement in the law. Studies have shown that the clearest cause of the lack of progress in rebuilding is the failure of many plans to reduce overfishing on those critically depleted stocks. H.R. 5946 addresses this concern. Notwithstanding efforts by this Congress to undermine the National Environmental Policy Act, H.R. 5946, as amended, requires full compliance with the law. The Secretary of Commerce is directed to update the procedures for complying with NEPA, but these new procedures will not supercede existing NEPA regulations and guidance issued by the Council on Environmental Quality. Additionally, H.R. 5946 places a 10-year limit on permits, known as limited access privileges, which are issued to fishermen to harvest a quantity of fish. On this issue, I commend our colleague Tom Allen, who worked to ensure that the limited access privilege program conserves fisheries, is accountable, and protects small fishermen from those who would like to consolidate fisheries. The privileges are to be held by fishermen who are actively engaged and substantially participate in the fishery. The regional fishery associations are to maintain free and open markets for fishermen to sell their catch, and are not to force fishermen into unwilling or involuntary arrangements. H.R. 5946 also encourages the conservation of coral reefs. The bill directs the Secretary to map the locations of deep sea corals for the councils, monitor activity occurring where deep sea corals exist, and develop technologies to assist fishermen in reducing the interactions that fishing gear has with corals. Finally, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to undertake activities to reduce illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in international waters. This will assist domestic fishermen who bear the costs when fish harvested illegally result in degraded fish stocks and depressed prices worldwide. In summary, H.R. 5946 will promote the conservation of our fisheries. The bill does not include everything on my wish list, but it improves upon existing law. [[Page E2244]] By reauthorizing the Magnuson-Stevens Act in the 109th Congress, we will have more time in the 110th Congress to devote to other ocean issues, including considering the recommendations of the Joint Oceans Commission Initiative. It is a rare day that I agree with our President, but several months ago he said, ``Overfishing is harmful. It's harmful to our country and it's harmful to the world.'' I agree wholeheartedly and understand that this legislation takes corrective action to curtail overfishing, especially in our most depleted fisheries. I support the bill, encourage my colleagues to do so as well. ____________________ |