[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4408 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  2d Session
                                H. R. 4408


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 27, 2000

    Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
       To reauthorize the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. REAUTHORIZATION OF ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS CONSERVATION ACT.

    Section 7(a) of the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act (16 
U.S.C. 1851 note) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) Authorization.--For each of fiscal years 2001, 2002, and 
2003, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act--
            ``(1) $1,000,000 to the Secretary of Commerce; and
            ``(2) $250,000 to the Secretary of the Interior.''.

SEC. 2. POPULATION STUDY OF STRIPED BASS.

    (a) Study.--The Secretaries (as that term is defined in the 
Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act), in consultation with the 
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, shall conduct a study to 
determine if the distribution of year classes in the Atlantic striped 
bass population is appropriate for maintaining adequate recruitment and 
sustainable fishing opportunities. In conducting the study, the 
Secretaries shall consider--
            (1) long-term stock assessment data and other fishery-
        dependent and independent data for Atlantic striped bass; and
            (2) the results of peer-reviewed research funded under the 
        Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretaries, in consultation with the 
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, shall submit to the 
Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives the results of 
the study and a long-term plan to ensure a balanced and healthy 
population structure of Atlantic striped bass, including older fish. 
The report shall include information regarding--
            (1) the structure of the Atlantic striped bass population 
        required to maintain adequate recruitment and sustainable 
        fishing opportunities; and
            (2) recommendations for measures necessary to achieve and 
        maintain the population structure described in paragraph (1).
    (c) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary of Commerce $250,000 to carry out this section.

            Passed the House of Representatives June 26, 2000.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.