[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S9160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PELL:
  S. 2001. A bill to amend the Job Training Partnership Act to improve 
the definition relating to eligible dislocated workers, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.


                the fishermen as dislocated workers act

  Mr. PELL. Mr. President, I am introducing legislation today that 
amends the Job Training Partnership Act [JTPA] to improve the 
definition of eligible dislocated workers. The legislation defines 
``dislocated worker'' as any employee who ``has become unemployed as a 
result of a Federal action that limits the use of, or restricts access 
to, a marine natural resource.''
  This language is directed at fishermen. In Rhode Island, as well as 
many other coastal States, customarily the crew members of fishing 
boats are not paid but are given a share of the day's catch. 
Unfortunately, this means they are neither employees of the boat nor 
self-employed.
  Fishing has always been a difficult occupation. But now, with a 
declining supply, Government efforts to restore the population of 
various species of fish by limiting or closing access to fishing 
grounds, and the need to close large portions of our coastal waters 
after oil spills and other environmental disasters, fishermen are 
leaving port less and, when they do, catching less.
  Some months ago, I received a letter from a Rhode Island fisherman 
who realized that fishing would no longer be able to support the 
demands of his growing family. He had, therefore, selected a new 
occupation--he wants to be a cabinetmaker--and on his own, he had 
located and been accepted into a training program. His only problem? 
Financial assistance.
  Because he is technically not unemployed, the present system is of no 
help to him. My legislation would correct that unfortunate inequity.
  I originally offered and had accepted a similar version of this 
legislation in the Labor and Human Resources Committee as an amendment 
to S. 143, the Workforce Development Act. Regrettably, the House-Senate 
work force development conference committee has only just finished its 
work under a cloud of partisanship and disagreement and I very much 
doubt any further action will take place during this Congress.
  I do not believe the commercial fishermen in Galilee, RI, should 
suffer because of the failure of a conference committee in Washington, 
DC. I have, therefore, drafted this legislation.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2001

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

     SECTION 1. DEFINITION.

       Section 301(a)(1) of the Job Training Partnership Act (29 
     U.S.C. 1651(a)(1)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``; or'' and inserting 
     a semicolon;
       (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period and 
     inserting ``; or''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(E) have become unemployed as a result of a Federal 
     action that limits the use of, or restricts access to, a 
     marine natural resource.''.
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