[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 98 (Tuesday, July 25, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H6855-H6856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FISHERMEN'S PROTECTIVE ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1999

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in 
the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 1651) to amend the Fishermen's 
Protective Act of 1967 to extend the period during which reimbursement 
may be provided to owners of United States fishing vessels for costs 
incurred when such a vessel is seized and detained by a foreign 
country, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Senate amendment:
       Page 13, line 3, strike out [$60,000,000.] and insert: 
     $60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 and 2003.

                        TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS

     SEC. 401. USE OF AIRCRAFT PROHIBITED.

       Section 7(a) of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 
     (16 U.S.C. 971e(a)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``or'' after the semicolon in paragraph 
     (1);
       (2) by striking ``fish.'' in paragraph (2) and inserting 
     ``fish; or''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) for any person, other than a person holding a valid 
     Federal permit in the purse seine category--
       ``(A) to use an aircraft to locate or otherwise assist in 
     fishing for, catching, or retaining Atlantic bluefin tuna; or
       ``(B) to catch, possess, or retain Atlantic bluefin tuna 
     located by use of an aircraft.''.

     SEC. 402. FISHERIES RESEARCH VESSEL PROCUREMENT.

       Notwithstanding section 644 of title 15, United States 
     Code, and section 19.502-2 of title 48, Code of Federal 
     Regulations, the Secretary of Commerce shall seek to procure 
     Fisheries Research Vessels through full and open competition 
     from responsible United States shipbuilding companies 
     irrespective of size.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Saxton) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George 
Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material therein on H.R. 1651.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1651, the Fishermen's 
Protective Act Amendments of 1999. This bill makes a number of 
conservation and management improvements to several important fisheries 
laws.
  Title I allows fishermen to be reimbursed if their vessel is 
illegally detained or seized by foreign countries.
  Title II establishes a panel to advise the Secretaries of State and 
Interior on Yukon River salmon issues in Alaska. This section will 
provide much needed support in the conservation and management of Yukon 
River salmon.
  Title III authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to acquire, purchase, 
lease, lease-purchase or charter and equip up to six fishery survey 
vessels. These vessels are one of the most important fishery management 
tools available to the Federal scientists. They allow for the 
collection of much-needed scientific data and to manage our Nation's 
fisheries.
  Finally, the last title addresses the use of spotter aircraft in the 
New England-based Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery. This section was added 
in the other body which responded to concerns over use of planes which 
have accelerated the catch rates and closures in the general and 
harpoon categories.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a well thought out, well drafted bill, and I 
urge an ``aye'' vote.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.

[[Page H6856]]

  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, H.R. 1651, which was 
passed by the House last year. As my colleague on the other side has 
explained, it contains several provisions intended to improve the 
fisheries conservation, management and data collection. It was approved 
unanimously by the Senate last month, and I urge the Members to support 
passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Maine (Mr. Allen).
  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1651, the 
Fishermen's Protective Act Amendments. H.R. 1651, as passed by the 
House, makes improvements in several important fisheries laws by 
enhancing conservation and management measures.
  In the other body, this bill was amended to include a ban on the use 
of spotter planes to find Atlantic bluefin tuna. The Senate passed the 
amended bill by unanimous consent.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to make clear how important this provision of the 
bill is to tuna fishermen in Maine. Most of them have been shut out of 
the fishery this season, as well as in the recent past. Currently, the 
larger boats can afford the planes. They take in the allowable catch 
and force smaller boats to end their season. Without this ban, owners 
of these smaller boats will be unable to make a living and support 
their families.
  Many strong opinions are the rule when fisheries issues are 
concerned. In this case, however, the Secretary of Commerce received a 
unanimous recommendation from the Highly Migratory Species Advisory 
Panel in 1998. The panel advised the Secretary to prohibit the use of 
spotter aircraft in the General and Harpoon categories of the Atlantic 
bluefin tuna fishery.
  The use of these planes can increase the catch rates and closures in 
the general and harpoon categories. The scientific and conservation 
objectives of the Highly Migratory Species Fisheries Management Plan 
can be negatively affected by the increased catch rates. Two years ago, 
the National Marine Fisheries Service issued a proposed rule to adopt 
the Advisory Panel recommendation but the rule was not finalized. It 
has, therefore, become necessary to take legislative action.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a regional issue that many in the New England 
delegation on both sides of the aisle support. I thank the gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
George Miller) for expediting action on this bill, and I urge Members 
to support this legislation.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman 
from Maine (Mr. Allen) for his work and his support of this 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) that the House suspend the rules 
and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill, H.R. 1651.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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