[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 95 (Tuesday, July 8, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H4858-H4860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS CONSERVATION ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1997

  Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1658) to reauthorize and amend the 
Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act and related laws, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1658

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Atlantic Striped Bass 
     Conservation Act Amendments of 1997''.

     SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION AND AMENDMENT OF ATLANTIC STRIPED 
                   BASS CONSERVATION ACT.

       The Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 1851 
     note) is amended to read as follows:

     ``SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       ``This Act may be cited as the `Atlantic Striped Bass 
     Conservation Act'.

     ``SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       ``(a) Findings.--The Congress finds and declares the 
     following:
       ``(1) Atlantic striped bass are of historic commercial and 
     recreational importance and economic benefit to the Atlantic 
     coastal States and to the Nation.
       ``(2) No single government entity has full management 
     authority throughout the range of the Atlantic striped bass.
       ``(3) The population of Atlantic striped bass--
       ``(A) has been subject to large fluctuations due to natural 
     causes, fishing pressure, environmental pollution, loss and 
     alteration of habitat, inadequacy of fisheries conservation 
     and management practices, and other causes; and
       ``(B) risks potential depletion in the future without 
     effective monitoring and conservation and management 
     measures.
       ``(4) It is in the national interest to implement effective 
     procedures and measures to provide for effective 
     interjurisdictional conservation and management of this 
     species.
       ``(b) Purpose.--It is therefore declared to be the purpose 
     of the Congress in this Act to support and encourage the 
     development, implementation, and enforcement of effective 
     interstate action regarding the conservation and management 
     of the Atlantic striped bass.

     ``SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       ``As used in this Act--
       ``(1) the term `Magnuson Act' means the Magnuson-Stevens 
     Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et 
     seq.).
       ``(2) The term `Atlantic striped bass' means members of 
     stocks or populations of the species Morone saxatilis, which 
     ordinarily migrate seaward of the waters described in 
     paragraph (3)(A)(i).
       ``(3) The term `coastal waters' means--
       ``(A) for each coastal State referred to in paragraph 
     (4)(A)--
       ``(i) all waters, whether salt or fresh, of the coastal 
     State shoreward of the baseline from which the territorial 
     sea of the United States is measured; and
       ``(ii) the waters of the coastal State seaward from the 
     baseline referred to in clause (i) to the inner boundary of 
     the exclusive economic zone;
       ``(B) for the District of Columbia, those waters within its 
     jurisdiction; and
       ``(C) for the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, those 
     waters of the Potomac River within the boundaries established 
     by the Potomac River Compact of 1958.
       ``(4) The term `coastal State' means--
       ``(A) Pennsylvania and each State of the United States 
     bordering on the Atlantic Ocean north of the State of South 
     Carolina;
       ``(B) the District of Columbia; and
       ``(C) the Potomac River Fisheries Commission established by 
     the Potomac River Compact of 1958.
       ``(5) The term `Commission' means the Atlantic States 
     Marine Fisheries Commission established under the interstate 
     compact consented to and approved by the Congress in Public 
     Laws 77-539 and 81-721.
       ``(6) The term `exclusive economic zone' has the meaning 
     given such term in section 3(6) of the Magnuson Act (16 
     U.S.C. 1802(6)).
       ``(7) The term `fishing' means--
       ``(A) the catching, taking, or harvesting of Atlantic 
     striped bass, except when incidental to harvesting that 
     occurs in the course of commercial or recreational fish 
     catching activities directed at a species other than Atlantic 
     striped bass;
       ``(B) the attempted catching, taking, or harvesting of 
     Atlantic striped bass; and
       ``(C) any operation at sea in support of, or in preparation 
     for, any activity described in subparagraph (A) or (B).

     The term does not include any scientific research authorized 
     by the Federal Government or by any State government.
       ``(8) The term `moratorium area' means the coastal waters 
     with respect to which a declaration under section 5(a) 
     applies.
       ``(9) The term `moratorium period' means the period 
     beginning on the day on which moratorium is declared under 
     section 5(a) regarding a coastal State and ending on the day 
     on which the Commission notifies the Secretaries that that 
     State has taken appropriate remedial action with respect to 
     those matters that were the case of the moratorium being 
     declared.
       ``(10) The term `Plan' means a plan for managing Atlantic 
     striped bass, or an amendment to such plan, that is prepared 
     and adopted by the Commission.
       ``(11) The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Commerce 
     or a designee of the Secretary of the Secretary of Commerce.
       ``(12) The term `Secretaries' means the Secretary of 
     Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior or their 
     designees.

     ``SEC. 4. MONITORING OF IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT BY 
                   COASTAL STATES.

       ``(a) Determination.--During December of each fiscal year, 
     and at any other time it deems necessary the Commission shall 
     determine--
       ``(1) whether each coastal State has adopted all regulatory 
     measures necessary to fully implement the Plan in its coastal 
     waters; and
       ``(2) whether the enforcement of the Plan by each coastal 
     State is satisfactory.
       ``(b) Satisfactory State Enforcement.--For purposes of 
     subsection (a)(2), enforcement by a coastal State shall not 
     be considered satisfactory by the Commission if, in its view, 
     the enforcement is being carried out in such a manner that 
     the implementation of the Plan within the coastal waters of 
     the State is being, or will likely be, substantially and 
     adversely affected.
       ``(c) Notification of Secretaries.--The Commission shall 
     immediately notify the Secretaries of each negative 
     determination made by it under subsection (a).

     ``SEC. 5. MORATORIUM.

       ``(a) Secretarial Action After Notification.--Upon 
     receiving notice from the Commission under section 4(c) of a 
     negative determination regarding a coastal State, the 
     Secretaries shall determine jointly, within thirty days, 
     whether that coastal State is in compliance with the Plan 
     and, if the State is not in compliance, the Secretaries shall 
     declare jointly a moratorium on fishing for Atlantic striped 
     bass within the coastal waters of that coastal State. In 
     making such a determination, the Secretaries shall carefully 
     consider and review the comments of the Commission and that 
     coastal State in question.
       ``(b) Prohibited Acts During Moratorium.--During a 
     moratorium period, it is unlawful for any person--
       ``(1) to engage in fishing within the moratorium area;
       ``(2) to land, or attempt to land, Atlantic striped bass 
     that are caught, taken, or harvested in violation of 
     paragraph (1);
       ``(3) to land lawfully harvested Atlantic striped bass 
     within the boundaries of a coastal State when a moratorium 
     declared under subsection (a) applies to that State; or
       ``(4) to fail to return to the water Atlantic striped bass 
     to which the moratorium applies that are caught incidental to 
     harvesting that occurs in the course of commercial or 
     recreational fish catching activities, regardless of the 
     physical condition of the striped bass when caught.
       ``(c) Civil Penalties.--
       ``(1) Civil penalty.--Any person who commits any act that 
     is unlawful under subsection (b) shall be liable to the 
     United States for a civil penalty as provided by section 308 
     of the Magnuson Act (16 U.S.C. 1858).
       ``(2) Civil forfeitures.--
       ``(A) In general.--Any vessel (including its gear, 
     equipment, appurtenances, stores, and cargo) used, and any 
     fish (or the fair market value thereof) taken or retained, in 
     any manner, in connection with, or as the result of, the 
     commission of any act that is unlawful under subsection (b) 
     shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States as 
     provided in section 310 of the Magnuson Act (16 U.S.C. 1860).
       ``(B) Disposal of fish.--Any fish seized pursuant to this 
     Act may be disposed of pursuant to the order of a court of 
     competent jurisdiction, or, if perishable, in a manner 
     prescribed in regulations.
       ``(d) Enforcement.--A person authorized by the Secretary or 
     the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
     operating may take any action to enforce a moratorium 
     declared under subsection (a) that an officer authorized by 
     the Secretary under section 311(b) of the Magnuson Act (16 
     U.S.C. 1861(b)) may take to enforce that Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 
     et seq.). The Secretary may, by agreement, on a reimbursable 
     basis or otherwise, utilize the personnel, services, 
     equipment (including aircraft and vessels), and facilities of 
     any other Federal department or agency and of any agency of a 
     State in carrying out that enforcement.
       ``(e) Regulations.--The Secretary may issue regulations to 
     implement this section.

     ``SEC. 6. CONTINUING STUDIES OF STRIPED BASS POPULATIONS.

       ``(a) In General.--For the purposes of carrying out this 
     Act, the Secretaries shall conduct continuing, comprehensive 
     studies of Atlantic striped bass stocks. These studies shall 
     include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
       ``(1) Annual stock assessments, using fishery-dependent and 
     fishery-independent data, for the purposes of extending the 
     long-term population record generated by the annual striped 
     bass study conducted by the Secretaries before 1994 and 
     understanding the population dynamics of Atlantic striped 
     bass.
       ``(2) Investigations of the causes of fluctuations in 
     Atlantic striped bass populations.
       ``(3) Investigations of the effects of water quality, land 
     use, and other environmental factors on the recruitment, 
     spawning potential, mortality, and abundance of Atlantic 
     striped bass populations, including the Delaware River 
     population.
       ``(4) Investigations of--
       ``(A) the interactions between Atlantic striped bass and 
     other fish, including bluefish, menhaden, mackerel, and other 
     forage fish or possible competitors, stock assessments of 
     these species, to the extent appropriate; and
       ``(B) the effects of interspecies predation and competition 
     on the recruitment, spawning potential mortality, and 
     abundance of Atlantic striped bass.
       ``(b) Reports.--The Secretaries shall make biennial reports 
     to the Congress and to the Commission concerning the progress 
     and findings of studies conducted under subsection (a) and

[[Page H4859]]

     shall make those reports public. Such reports shall, to the 
     extent appropriate, contain recommendations of actions which 
     could be taken to encourage the sustainable management of 
     Atlantic striped bass.

     ``SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; COOPERATIVE 
                   AGREEMENTS.

       ``(a) Authorization.--For each of fiscal years 1998, 1999, 
     and 2000, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
     out this Act--
       ``(1) $800,000 to the Secretary of Commerce; and
       ``(2) $250,000 to the Secretary of the Interior.
       ``(b) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretaries may enter 
     into cooperative agreements with the Atlantic States Marine 
     Fisheries Commission or with States, for the purpose of using 
     amounts appropriated pursuant to this section to provide 
     financial assistance for carrying out the purposes of this 
     Act.

     ``SEC. 8. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN PREPARATION OF MANAGEMENT 
                   PLANS AND AMENDMENTS.

       ``(a) Standards and Procedures.--In order to ensure the 
     opportunity for public participation in the preparation of 
     management plans and amendments to management plans for 
     Atlantic striped bass, the Commission shall prepare such 
     plans and amendments in accordance with the standards and 
     procedures established under section 805(a)(2) of the 
     Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act.
       ``(b) Application.--Subsection (a) shall apply to 
     management plans and amendments adopted by the Commission 
     after the 6-month period beginning on the date of enactment 
     of the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act Amendments of 
     1997.

     ``SEC. 9. PROTECTION OF STRIPED BASS IN THE EXCLUSIVE 
                   ECONOMIC ZONE.

       ``(a) Regulation of Fishing in Exclusive Economic Zone.--
     The Secretary shall promulgate regulations governing fishing 
     for Atlantic striped bass in the exclusive economic zone that 
     the Secretary determines are--
       ``(1) consistent with the national standards set forth in 
     section 301 of the Magnuson Act (16 U.S.C. 1851);
       ``(2) compatible with the Plan and each Federal moratorium 
     in effect on fishing for Atlantic striped bass within the 
     coastal waters of a coastal State; and
       ``(3) sufficient to assure the long-term conservation of 
     Atlantic striped bass populations.
       ``(b) Consultation; Periodic Review of Regulations.--In 
     preparing regulations under subsection (a), the Secretary 
     shall consult with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 
     Commission, the appropriate Regional Fishery Management 
     Councils, and each affected Federal, State, and local 
     government entity. The Secretary shall periodically review 
     regulations promulgated under subsection (a), and if 
     necessary to ensure their continued consistency with the 
     requirements of subsection (a), shall amend those 
     regulations.
       ``(c) Applicability of Magnuson Act Provisions.--The 
     provisions of sections 307, 308, 309, 310, and 311 of the 
     Magnuson Act (16 U.S.C. 1857, 1858, 1859, 1860, and 1861) 
     regarding prohibited acts, civil penalties, criminal 
     offenses, civil forfeitures, and enforcement shall apply with 
     respect to regulations and any plan issued under subsection 
     (a) of this section as if such regulations or plan were 
     issued under the Magnuson Act.''.

     SEC. 3. REPEALS.

       (a) Anadromous Fish Conservation Act.--Section 7 of the 
     Anadromous Fish Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 757g) is 
     repealed.
       (b) Albemarle Sound-Roanoke River Basin.--Section 5 of the 
     Act entitled ``An Act to authorize appropriations to carry 
     out the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act for fiscal 
     years 1989 through 1991, and for other purposes'', approved 
     November 3, 1988 (16 U.S.C. 1851 note; 102 Stat. 2984), 
     relating to studies of the Albermarle Sound-Roanoke River 
     Basin striped bass stock, is repealed.
       (c) Regulation of Fishing in Exclusive Economic Zone.--
     Section 6 of the Act entitled ``An Act to authorize 
     appropriations to carry out the Atlantic Striped Bass 
     Conservation Act for fiscal years 1989 through 1991, and for 
     other purposes'', approved November 3, 1988 (102 Stat. 2986; 
     16 U.S.C. 1851 note) is repealed.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania [Mr. Peterson] and the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. 
Pallone] each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Peterson].
  Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 1658, a bill to 
reauthorize the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act.
  The Striped Bass Act is one of the few true success stories in 
fisheries management. It was enacted in 1984, several years after the 
Atlantic coast stock of striped bass suffered a severe population 
crash. The Striped Bass Act provided a means of enforcing a single 
interstate management plan throughout the eastern seaboard, which 
allowed fisheries managers to take the action needed to save the 
fishery from extinction.
  Over the last 13 years, this program has succeeded beyond any 
expectations. In 1984, the outlook was truly bleak for striped bass and 
the fishermen who depend on them. Now stripers are as abundant as they 
have ever been. They stand as a rare example of how to bring an 
irreplaceable recreational and commercial resource back from the brink 
of disaster.
  This bill before us today would continue this successful restoration 
program. It would reauthorize the Striped Bass Act and continue the 
striped bass study which started in 1980 and has provided information 
necessary to make good management decisions. The restoration program 
would not have been nearly as successful without these studies. We must 
continue gathering the best information possible to protect the gains 
that we have made.
  In addition, this bill makes technical corrections to the Striped 
Bass Act to make it consistent with the Atlantic States Cooperative 
Fisheries Management Act. It also provides for greater public input 
into the writing of striped bass management plans.
  H.R. 1658 will ensure that the successful striped bass management 
program continues into the future. I urge all my colleagues to join me 
in supporting it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, the striped 
bass fishery is one of the most important fisheries for marine 
recreational anglers. The fishery extends north from Cape Hatteras to 
Maine. In 1995, over 1 million anglers made almost 7 million trips and 
nearly spent $160 million in pursuit of this fish.
  For the last three decades Atlantic striped bass stocks have been 
declining due to overfishing, pollution, habitat destruction, and other 
factors. Fishermen and managers alike were concerned that the fishery 
would soon become an endangered species.
  Recently, however, the Atlantic striped bass stocks have grown and 
are slowly returning to their previous abundance. Many Atlantic coast 
States have recognized the significance of this growth and understand 
the pressure that commercial fishing interests may have on commercial 
breeding stocks. In response, States such as New Jersey, Connecticut, 
Pennsylvania, Georgia, and several others have passed game fish laws or 
have prohibited Atlantic striped bass commercial angling.
  The enactment of the Striped Bass Conservation Act or the Striped 
Bass Act, which was passed in 1984, has authorized an annual study 
population assessment of striped bass stocks to be done with the NMFS 
and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It was enacted to encourage 
coastal States to comply with interstate management plans developed by 
the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to conserve striped 
bass populations. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the last study that was 
actually done on striped bass was in 1994.
  Mr. Speaker, when this bill had a hearing, when we had a field 
hearing of the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and 
Oceans in Manahawkin, NJ, a few months ago, many spoke out about the 
effects of environmental changes and interspecies competition on 
striped bass populations. I think support of this legislation would 
allow us to better understand striped bass stock and design management 
plans that not only benefit the stock, but also the striped bass 
fishing community.
  I also want to commend the sponsor of the bill, my colleague the 
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton], because the bill increases 
public participation in the preparation of striped bass management 
plans.
  Today, the implementation of the Federal-State partnership embodied 
in the Striped Bass Act has restored the striper to its former glory as 
one of the most important sport and commercial fisheries on the east 
coast. It is clear evidence that conservation can work. And knowing the 
importance of this fishery to American anglers, I would urge Members of 
this body, my colleagues, to support the legislation and reauthorize 
the appropriations for the annual striped bass study.
  Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Delahunt].

[[Page H4860]]

  Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, for some of us the conservation of a threatened species 
such as striped bass is more than a legislative priority. Last weekend 
I took part in the annual striped bass tournament on Martha's Vineyard, 
in my congressional district. I was led by some exceptionally talented 
surf casters to Lobsterville Beach, where we fished for stripers until 
midnight.
  As for results, let us just say I did not win the tournament. In 
fact, let us just say I did not land a single fish. My partners 
concluded that this must be part of my own personal plan to help save 
striped bass.
  We can achieve this important objective, however, without doing it 
one fish at a time. I rise today in support of legislation which will 
help ensure the continued health of striped bass stocks from Maine to 
South Carolina, and hopefully will increase my own chances for the next 
tournament on Martha's Vineyard, or anywhere, for that matter.
  When my predecessor, Gerry Studds, first introduced the Striped Bass 
Conservation Act in 1984, the species had been battered by pollution 
and overfishing. Harvests had plummeted so far, so fast, by over 10 
million pounds over the preceding 10 years, that there was legitimate 
fear that the future of the species was clearly in danger.
  If the problem was clear, the solution was not. The striped bass are 
highly migratory and move primarily along the 3-mile coastal zone which 
is under the combined jurisdictions of 12 States and the District of 
Columbia. Balancing the needs of the fish, the fishermen, and 
regulators, Congressman Studds and his colleagues created a unique and, 
as it turned out, highly effective scheme to bolster State management 
efforts to restore the stock.

                              {time}  1530

  By all measures, the results of this cooperation among the States and 
between the State and Federal Government has been astonishingly 
successful. Today the fish are found in record numbers up and down the 
coast, and all the people involved are still talking courteously to 
each other.
  The Federal-State partnership embodied in the Striped Bass Act has 
restored the species to its former considerable glory as one of the 
most important sport and commercial fisheries on the east coast. We 
have demonstrated to fishermen and fisheries managers alike that 
conservation, if properly conceived and sensibly executed, can work.
  H.R. 1658 will ensure that we stay the course that has nursed this 
fishery back to health and that, given enough time, encouragement and 
good bait, even Members of Congress might one day experience the thrill 
of hooking one of these spectacular fish.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, today we are considering H.R. 1658, the 
Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act Amendments of 1997.
  I have stood here many times to speak about striped bass and the 
Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act. In fact, I represent many 
Atlantic striped bass. Young stripers live the first part of their 
lives in the Delaware River, at one end of the third district of New 
Jersey. When they grow up, they inhabit the bays, inlets, and coastal 
waters at the other end of the district.
  My other constituents who are recreational fishermen consider striped 
bass one of the premier saltwater game fish on the east coast. They 
support a large industry of charter boats, bait, and tackle shops, and 
other businesses, not only in New Jersey but all along the Altantic 
coast. In other east coast States, striped bass also support a 
significant commercial fishery.
  The larger importance of striped bass is that they nearly disappeared 
20 years ago. In the late 1970's, heavy fishing pressure and 
inconsistent State management policies coincided with pollution and 
other environmental factors to cause a serious population crash. This 
devastated the commercial fishery and nearly wiped out the species as a 
game fish. Congress responded by enacting the Atlantic Striped Bass 
Conservation Act, which enforced a single management plan throughout 
all the east coast States. This allowed fisheries managers to take the 
action that was needed to end overfishing and restore the population.
  Over the last 13 years, this program has succeeded beyond any 
expectations. In 1984, the outlook for striped bass was bleak. Now, 
they are as abundant as they have ever been. Striped bass are one of 
the few true success stories in fisheries management, and stand as an 
example of how conservative, forward-looking management can bring an 
irreplaceable resource back from disaster.
  H.R. 1658 would continue this successful program. It updates the 
objectives of the Striped Bass Act to reflect the current state of the 
fishery. It makes technical corrections to increase consistency with 
the Atlantic States Cooperative Fisheries Management Act, which governs 
other coastal fisheries. It increases public input into striped bass 
management plans. Most important, it reauthorizes the annual striped 
bass study. This study started in 1980 and provides the information 
that fisheries managers need to make good management decisions.
  Without these studies, the restoration program would have been much 
less successful. Likewise, a shortage of information will compromise 
future management efforts. We need the best information possible to 
protect the gains that we have made. Only a commitment to careful study 
and conservative management can ensure that striped bass will remain a 
livelihood for commercial fishermen, a thrill for anglers, and a common 
sight in east coast waters well into the future.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill will continue an extremely successful program. 
I urge you and all other members to support it.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of 
the Striped Bass Conservation Act Amendments, and I compliment the 
author of the bill, Jim Saxton, for his continued efforts to move this 
legislation.
  The Atlantic coast stock of striped bass are found in waters from 
North Carolina to Maine. They are highly migratory but move primarily 
along the coast within the 3-mile zone, which is subject to State 
fishery management.
  While striped bass populations have fluctuated dramatically in the 
past, the population suffered a drastic decline in the 1970's. Striped 
bass harvests plummeted from 15 million pounds in 1973 to 3.5 million 
pounds in 1983.
  In response to this serious problem, Congress approved an emergency 
striped bass study and the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act of 
1984. This law requires all affected coastal States to implement 
management measures to conserve and protect Atlantic striped bass 
stocks.
  After 15 years of careful management, the striped bass population has 
fully recovered to pre-decline levels. This is a major fishery 
management success. H.R. 1658 will ensure that this remarkable recovery 
is not compromised in the days ahead.
  As reported by the Resources Committee, this legislation reauthorizes 
the study provisions of the Striped Bass Act and related laws, makes 
technical changes to increase consistency with other fishery 
conservation laws, and encourages greater public participation in the 
writing of management plans.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope more of our fishery management efforts prove to 
be this successful in the future. I urge an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 1658.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Goodling). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Peterson] that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1658, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas 
and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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