[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 147 (Monday, October 20, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H9700]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2003

  Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 2048) to extend the period for reimbursement under the 
Fishermen's Protective Act of 1967, and to reauthorize the Yukon River 
Restoration and Enhancement Fund, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2048

       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 ``International Fisheries 
     Reauthorization Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF PERIOD FOR REIMBURSEMENT UNDER 
                   FISHERMEN'S PROTECTIVE ACT OF 1967.

       Section 7(e) of the Fishermen's Protective Act of 1967 (22 
     U.S.C. 1977(e)) is amended by striking ``2003'' and inserting 
     ``2008''.

     SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF YUKON RIVER SALMON ACT OF 2000.

       Section 208 of the Yukon River Salmon Act of 2000 (16 
     U.S.C. 5727) is amended by striking ``2000'' and all that 
     follows through ``2003'' and inserting ``2004 through 2008''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Renzi) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi).
  Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2048 reauthorizes two important laws dealing with 
international fisheries: the Fishermen's Protective Act and the Yukon 
River Salmon Act.
  At the hearing the Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans 
Subcommittee held on May 22, 2003, we heard from the Departments of 
State, Interior, and Commerce on the significance of these two laws. 
Without going into any of the details about the successes of these two 
laws, let me state that reauthorizing these laws will provide Federal 
assistance to important conservation work being done on the shared 
salmon stocks of the Yukon River. Without a new agreement on the shared 
Yukon River stocks, we are not able to work together with Canada on 
research, restoration, and management of these unique salmon stocks.
  In addition, this legislation will continue an important self-funded 
insurance program for U.S. fishermen who fish outside of U.S. waters as 
well as maintain a critical provision in the Fishermen's Protective Act 
that allows the United States to take action against nations that are 
not in compliance with international fishery conservation and 
management agreements.
  At a time when there has been much media attention on the status of 
our marine fisheries and in particular those large, highly-migratory 
species, the Pelly Amendment allows the United States to hold our 
trading partners accountable if they are not in compliance with 
internationally-agreed-upon management regimes.
  This legislation is a critical component to continuing the process we 
are making on sustainable international fishery agreements, and I urge 
Members to support this important legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2048.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill.
  Effective international fisheries agreements are critical for both 
economic and ecological reasons. Improper or unfair management of 
international fisheries costs our constituents millions of dollars in 
lost revenue each year. And our oceans are a global resource: fish and 
habitats on which they depend do not respect national boundaries. This 
bill, H.R. 2048, would reauthorize two important fisheries laws: the 
Fishermen's Protective Act and the Yukon River Salmon Act.
  Congress has both a right and a duty to protect our fishermen's 
interests in the global resources market. It remains vital that our 
fishermen are able to work harmoniously with fishermen from neighboring 
countries, and reauthorization of these acts will ensure future 
cooperation.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Gilchrest), chairman of the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans, for introducing this legislation and in expediting 
its consideration by the committee. And I also want to commend the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), chairman of the Committee on 
Resources, and his staff for their cooperation in working with 
Democratic Members to clear this noncontroversial legislation for the 
floor. I urge the House to adopt the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 2048, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to extend 
the period for reimbursement under the Fishermen's Protective Act of 
1967, and to reauthorize the Yukon River Salmon Act of 2000.''
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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