[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 160 (Tuesday, December 7, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S8600]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Murkowski, and Mr. 
        Begich):
  S. 4014. A bill to provide for the replacement or rebuilding of a 
vessel for the non American Fisheries Act trawl catcher processors that 
comprise the Amendment 80 fleet; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation.
  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a technical 
corrections bill relating to the replacement of vessels in the 
Washington and Alaska non-pollock groundfish trawl catcher-processor 
fleet.
  In Washington State, our history is based on a rich maritime 
tradition that contributes as much as $3 billion to the State's economy 
each year. There are 3,000 vessels in Washington's fishing fleet that 
employ 10,000 fishermen. Seafood processors employ another 3,800 
Washingtonians. And fish wholesalers employ an additional 1,000 people.
  Each year thousands of fishermen risk their lives on the high seas 
attempting to provide food for American families and for the world. All 
too often, however, the vessels fishermen use are old, antiquated, and 
sometimes even unsafe.
  It's that very concern about fishing safety that moved this Congress 
to pass new, more stringent fishing vessel safety requirements through 
the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010, which was signed into law by 
President Obama on October 15 of this year.
  Our work, though, is far from done.
  The bill I am introducing today is designed to clarify an ambiguity 
in the law that some believe could prevent fishermen in the Washington 
and Alaska non-pollock groundfish trawl catcher-processor fleet from 
replacing old, unsafe vessels with new ones. The North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council and U.S. Department of Commerce are currently taking 
action to promulgate regulations that would allow vessel replacement in 
this fleet. The Federal Government believes it has that authority, and 
I agree with that conclusion. Because of ambiguity in the law, however, 
my colleagues and I are introducing this legislation today to erase any 
uncertainty or ambiguity on whether the Government has the legal 
authority and ability to embark on its current course of action. 
Congress certainly never meant to prevent the replacement of old, 
unsafe vessels with new or refurbished ones, and where additional 
clarity is sought on that question, Congress should provide it.
  By adopting this bill, we can improve fishing safety by providing the 
legal and financial clarity necessary for these vessels to be rebuilt 
and replaced. In a rapidly-aging fleet that has already experienced the 
tragedy of ships and men lost at sea, it is the least that we owe 
them--the means to prevent such tragedies from happening again in the 
future.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the additional material was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 4014

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

     SECTION 1. REPLACEMENT VESSEL.

       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary 
     of Commerce may promulgate regulations that allow for the 
     replacement or rebuilding of a vessel qualified under 
     subsections (a)(7) and (g)(1)(A) of section 219 of the 
     Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations 
     Act, 2005 (Public Law 108-447; 188 Stat. 886-891).

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