[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 83 (Friday, May 30, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E893]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 29, 2014

        The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4660) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, 
     Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 2015, and for other purposes:

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Chair, I want to thank my colleague from California, 
Representative Huffman for his leadership on this issue. I also want to 
thank Chairman Wolf and Ranking Member Fattah for working with us on 
this important amendment.
  West Coast fishermen are in a tough spot, and in a very unique spot. 
Unlike other regions of the country where fishermen had their buyouts 
funded by taxpayers, our fishermen took on the loan willingly and 
knowing they would have to pay it back. And they are paying it back--
but at an interest rate that is two points above prime and therefore 
costing them 5 percent of their landings.
  Representative Huffman, Representative Herrera Beutler, and I are 
working to legislatively refinance this loan. In fact, today, that 
refinance bill passed out of the House Committee on Natural Resources 
and it has already passed the Senate Committee. But it's going to take 
some time to implement.
  West Coast fishermen are facing increased observer costs. We are 
transitioning to electronic monitoring, but that's going to take time--
too much time in my opinion. But until electronic monitoring is adopted 
by the Council and NOAA, fishermen will have to pay for 100 percent 
observer coverage--which can be as high as $350-$450 per day.
  And now, fishermen are bearing an additional cost--$2.4 million this 
year to help pay for the management of the fishery--known as the ``cost 
recovery fee.'' West Coast fishermen are willing to pay this fee. They 
knew the fee was coming. But, right now, with the mounting costs of the 
buyback loan, the observer costs, and pending trailing amendments that 
will make the fishery more economically viable--this additional 
financial burden is too much.
  This amendment would provide one year of relief to West Coast 
fishermen. It would mean the difference for many fishermen of selling 
their boats and trying to find a different livelihood in already 
distressed coastal communities, or staying in business.
  This amendment is bipartisan. It does not score. And it might not 
seem like a lot of money to people in this body, but it's a huge deal 
for my fishermen, their families, and small businesses that depend on 
the fleet to make a living. I urge my colleagues to adopt this 
amendment.

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