[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 203 (Wednesday, December 2, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7188-S7189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   YOUNG FISHERMEN'S DEVELOPMENT ACT

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 394, S. 496.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 496) to preserve United States fishing heritage 
     through a national program dedicated to training and 
     assisting the next generation of commercial fishermen, and 
     for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Mr. INHOFE. I ask unanimous consent that the Sullivan substitute 
amendment at the desk be agreed to and that the bill, as amended, be 
considered read a third time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 2691) in the nature of a substitute was agreed to, 
as follows

                (Purpose: In the nature of a substitute)

        Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Young Fishermen's 
     Development Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Sea grant institution.--The term ``Sea Grant 
     Institution'' means a sea grant college or sea grant 
     institute, as those terms are defined in section 203 of the 
     National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1122).
       (2) Tribal organization.--The term ``Tribal organization'' 
     has the meaning given the term ``tribal organization'' in 
     section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
     Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
       (3) Young fisherman.--The term ``young fisherman'' means an 
     individual who--
       (A) desires to participate in the commercial fisheries of 
     the United States, including the Great Lakes fisheries;
       (B) has worked as a captain, crew member, or deckhand on a 
     commercial fishing vessel for not more than 10 years of 
     cumulative service; or
       (C) is a beginning commercial fisherman.

     SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.

       The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the National Sea 
     Grant Office, shall establish a program to provide training, 
     education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for 
     young fishermen, to be known as the ``Young Fishermen's 
     Development Grant Program'' (referred to in this section as 
     the ``Program'').

     SEC. 4. GRANTS.

       (a) In General.--In carrying out the Program, the Secretary 
     shall make competitive grants to support new and established 
     local and regional training, education, outreach, and 
     technical assistance initiatives for young fishermen, 
     including programs, workshops, and services relating to--
       (1) seamanship, navigation, electronics, and safety;
       (2) vessel and engine care, maintenance, and repair;
       (3) innovative conservation fishing gear engineering and 
     technology;
       (4) sustainable fishing practices;
       (5) entrepreneurship and good business practices;
       (6) direct marketing, supply chain, and traceability;
       (7) financial and risk management, including vessel, 
     permit, and quota purchasing;
       (8) State and Federal legal requirements for specific 
     fisheries, including reporting, monitoring, licenses, and 
     regulations;
       (9) State and Federal fisheries policy and management;
       (10) mentoring, apprenticeships, or internships; and
       (11) any other activities, opportunities, or programs, as 
     the Secretary determines appropriate.
       (b) Eligibility.--
       (1) Applicants.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
     the Program, a recipient shall be a collaborative State, 
     Tribal, local, or regionally based network or partnership of 
     public or private entities, which may include--
       (A) a Sea Grant Institution;
       (B) a Federal or State agency or a Tribal organization;
       (C) a community-based nongovernmental organization;
       (D) fishermen's cooperatives or associations;
       (E) an institution of higher education (including an 
     institution awarding an associate's degree), or a foundation 
     maintained by an institution of higher education; or
       (F) any other appropriate entity, as the Secretary 
     determines appropriate.
       (2) Participants.--All young fishermen seeking to 
     participate in the commercial fisheries of the United States 
     and the Great Lakes are eligible to participate in the 
     activities funded through grants provided for in this 
     section, except that participants in such activities shall be 
     selected by each grant recipient.
       (c) Maximum Term and Amount of Grant.--
       (1) In general.--A grant under this section shall--
       (A) have a term of no more than 3 fiscal years; and
       (B) be in an amount that is not more than $200,000 for each 
     fiscal year.
       (2) Consecutive grants.--An eligible recipient may receive 
     consecutive grants under this section.
       (d) Matching Requirement.--To be eligible to receive a 
     grant under this section, a recipient shall provide a match 
     in the form of cash or in-kind contributions from the 
     recipient in the amount equal to or greater than 25 percent 
     of the funds provided by the grant.
       (e) Regional Balance.--In making grants under this section, 
     the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, 
     ensure geographic diversity.
       (f) Cooperation and Evaluation Criteria.--In carrying out 
     this section and in developing criteria for evaluating grant 
     applications, the Secretary shall consult, to the maximum 
     extent practicable, with--

[[Page S7189]]

       (1) Sea Grant Institutions and extension agents of such 
     institutions;
       (2) community-based nongovernmental fishing organizations;
       (3) Federal and State agencies, including Regional Fishery 
     Management Councils established under the Magnuson-Stevens 
     Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1851 et 
     seq.);
       (4) institutions of higher education with fisheries 
     expertise and programs; and
       (5) partners, as the Secretary determines.
       (g) Prohibition.--A grant under this section may not be 
     used to purchase any fishing license, permit, quota, or other 
     harvesting right.

     SEC. 5. FUNDING.

       The Secretary of Commerce shall carry out this Act using 
     amounts made available to the Department of Commerce for 
     fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

  The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read 
the third time.
  Mr. INHOFE. I know of no further debate on the bill, as amended.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, the bill having 
been read the third time, the question is, Shall the bill pass?
  The bill (S. 496), as amended, was passed.
  Mr. INHOFE. I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be 
considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________