[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 35 (Thursday, March 24, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
    TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE MARINE MAMMAL 
                             PROTECTION ACT

  Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Merchant Marine and Fisheries be discharged from further 
consideration of the bill (H.R. 4122) to temporarily extend certain 
provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and ask for its 
immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Massachusetts?
  (Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and 
I shall not object, I do so to give the gentleman from Massachusetts, 
Mr. Studds, a chance to explain the bill.
  I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.
  Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, I frankly wish that we did not have to bring 
this bill before the Members today.
  For the past five years, the fishermen of this country have been 
operating under an exemption of the ``taking'' provisions of the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act [MMPA]. That exemption expires on April 1. Two 
nights ago, the House passed a reauthorization bill which would have 
established a new management program to preserve the fishermen's right 
to fish and saved marine mammals. The staff of both bodies then worked 
around the clock to reach a compromise that both House and Senate could 
support. Last night, the House passed what we thought was an agreed-to 
text.
  Unfortunately, events in the other body over the last 24 hours have 
changed the situation, and we will not be able to come to agreement 
before the April 1 deadline. This bill would extend the exemption 
period for another 30 days, during which time we will continue to work 
with our colleagues to pass legislation that is fair to everyone, and--
most importantly--meets the goal of this landmark law: to protect 
marine mammals for future generations.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, the current exemption in the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act which allows American fishermen to operate 
expires on April 1, 1994. This committee has worked since last year to 
put together an acceptable bill that could be passed in the House and 
Senate. In fact, we passed a House bill on Monday, and what we believed 
to be a compromise text agreed to by the other body on Tuesday. We are 
now receiving from the other body a new version which is unacceptable 
to the Members of the House. Therefore, in order to keep American 
fishermen operating and allow us to work out these new problems with 
the other body, we are passing a 1-month extension of the fishery 
provisions in the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Massachusetts?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the bill, as follows:

                               H.R. 4122

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled, That 
     section 114(a)(1) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 
     (16 U.S.C. 1383a(a)(1)), is amended by striking ``April 1, 
     1994,'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``May 1, 1994,''.

  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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