[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 162 (Monday, December 17, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1939]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2012 AMENDMENTS

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                               speech of

                         HON. FRANK A. LoBIONDO

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 5, 2012

  Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, I understand a concern has been raised by 
the gentleman from Alaska, Mr. Young and others that wording in Section 
307 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012 relating 
to a vessel's ``eligibility'' to participate in the non-AFA trawl 
catcher/processor sector could potentially be read to result in the 
loss of fishery endorsements for AFA catcher/processors. I can affirm 
that it is not the intent of the legislation that either existing AFA 
vessels or rebuilt or replacement AFA vessels suffer a loss of fishery 
endorsements merely for being considered eligible to participate in a 
fishery in which they are not participating.
  As my colleagues know, this provision came as the result of a request 
from the other body during negotiations with them on a final text of 
the legislation. I can assure my colleagues that it was never 
contemplated that either existing AFA catcher/processors or rebuilt or 
replacement AFA vessels would lose, or be precluded from acquiring, 
fishery endorsements just because a federal agency might find such 
vessels eligible to participate in certain fisheries. The wording of 
Section 307, that amends 46 U.S.C. section 12113(d)(2)(C), relates to a 
section in statute pertaining to rebuilt or replacement AFA vessels. It 
creates restrictions on those vessels from entering the non-AFA pollock 
catcher/processor sector as replacement vessels, but it is not intended 
to affect the fishery endorsements for existing AFA catcher/processors 
or rebuilt or replacement AFA vessels that are not participating in the 
non-AFA trawl catcher/processor sector.

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