[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 217 (Sunday, December 20, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7868-S7871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FISHERY FAILURES: URGENTLY NEEDED DISASTER DECLARATIONS ACT
Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I ask
unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate
consideration of Calendar No. 586, S. 2346.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 2346) to improve the Fishery Resource Disaster
Relief program of the National Marine Fisheries Service, 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, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting
clause and insert in lieu thereof the following
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Fishery Failures: Urgently
Needed Disaster Declarations Act''.
SEC. 2. FISHERY RESOURCE DISASTER RELIEF.
Section 312(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1861a(a)) is amended to read as
follows:
``(a) Fishery Resource Disaster Relief.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Allowable cause.--The term `allowable cause' means a
natural cause, discrete anthropogenic cause, or undetermined
cause.
``(B) Anthropogenic cause.--The term `anthropogenic cause'
means an anthropogenic event, such as an oil spill or
spillway opening--
``(i) that could not have been addressed or prevented by
fishery management measures; and
``(ii) that is otherwise beyond the control of fishery
managers to mitigate through conservation and management
measures, including regulatory restrictions imposed as a
result of judicial action or to protect human health or
marine animals, plants, or habitats.
``(C) Fishery resource disaster.--The term `fishery
resource disaster' means a disaster that is determined by the
Secretary in accordance with this subsection and--
``(i) is an unexpected decrease in fish stock biomass or
other change that results in significant loss of access to
the fishery resource, which may include loss of fishing
vessels and gear for a substantial period of time and results
in significant revenue or subsistence loss due to an
allowable cause; and
``(ii) does not include--
``(I) reasonably predictable, foreseeable, and recurrent
fishery cyclical variations in species distribution or stock
abundance; or
``(II) reductions in fishing opportunities resulting from
conservation and management measures taken pursuant to this
Act.
``(D) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has the
meaning given such term in section 102 of the Federally
Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5130),
and the term `Tribal' means of or pertaining to such an
Indian tribe.
``(E) Natural cause.--The term `natural cause'--
``(i) means a weather, climatic, hazard, or biology-related
event, such as--
``(I) a hurricane;
``(II) a flood;
``(III) a harmful algal bloom;
``(IV) a tsunami;
``(V) a hypoxic zone;
``(VI) a drought;
``(VII) El Nino effects on water temperature;
``(VIII) a marine heat wave; or
``(IX) disease; and
[[Page S7869]]
``(ii) does not mean a normal or cyclical variation in a
species distribution or stock abundance.
``(F) 12-month revenue loss.--The term `12-month revenue
loss' means the percentage reduction in commercial, charter,
headboat, and processor revenue for the 12 months during the
fishery resource disaster period that is due to the fishery
resource disaster, when compared to average annual revenue in
the most recent 5-year period or equivalent for stocks with
cyclical life histories.
``(G) Undetermined cause.--The term `undetermined cause'
means a cause in which the current state of knowledge does
not allow the Secretary to identify the exact cause, and
there is no current conclusive evidence supporting a possible
cause of the fishery resource disaster.
``(2) General authority.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall have the authority
to determine the existence, extent, and beginning and end
dates of a fishery resource disaster under this subsection in
accordance with this subsection.
``(B) Availability of funds.--After the Secretary
determines that a fishery resource disaster has occurred, the
Secretary is authorized to make sums available, from funds
appropriated under paragraph (9) that are available, to be
used by the affected State, Tribal government, or interstate
marine fisheries commission, or by the Secretary in
cooperation with the affected State, Tribal government, or
interstate marine fisheries commission.
``(C) Savings clause.--The requirements under this
subsection shall take effect only with respect to requests
for a fishery resource disaster determination submitted after
the date of enactment of the Fishery Failures: Urgently
Needed Disaster Declarations Act.
``(3) Initiation of a fishery resource disaster review.--
``(A) Eligible requesters.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of the conclusion of the fishing season, a request for a
fishery resource disaster determination may be submitted to
the Secretary, if the Secretary has not independently
determined that a fishery resource disaster has occurred,
by--
``(i) the Governor of an affected State;
``(ii) an official Tribal resolution; or
``(iii) any other comparable elected or politically
appointed representative as determined by the Secretary.
``(B) Required information.--A complete request for a
fishery resource disaster determination under subparagraph
(A) shall include--
``(i) identification of all presumed affected fish stocks;
``(ii) identification of the fishery as Federal, non-
Federal, or both;
``(iii) the geographical boundaries of the fishery;
``(iv) preliminary information on causes of the fishery
resource disaster, if known; and
``(v) information needed to support a finding of a fishery
resource disaster, including--
``(I) information demonstrating the occurrence of an
unexpected decrease in fish stock biomass or other change
that results in significant loss of access to the fishery
resource, which could include the loss of fishing vessels and
gear, for a substantial period of time;
``(II) 12-month revenue loss or subsistence loss for the
affected Federal fishery, or if a fishery resource disaster
has occurred at any time in the previous 5-year period, an
appropriate time frame as determined by the Secretary;
``(III) if applicable, information on lost resource tax
revenues assessed by local communities, such as a raw fish
tax; and
``(IV) if applicable, information on 12-month revenue loss
for processors related to the information provided under
subclause (I), subject to section 402(b).
``(C) Assistance.--The Secretary may provide assistance,
data, and analysis to an eligible requester described in
paragraph (1), if so requested and the data is not available
to the requester, in carrying out the complete request under
subparagraph (A).
``(4) Review process.--
``(A) Interim response.--Not later than 20 days after
receipt of a request under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall
provide an interim response to the individual that--
``(i) acknowledges receipt of the request;
``(ii) provides a regional contact within the National
Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration;
``(iii) outlines the process and timeline by which a
request shall be considered; and
``(iv) requests additional information concerning the
fishery resource disaster, if the original request is
considered incomplete.
``(B) Evaluation of requests.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall complete a review,
within the time frame described in clause (ii), using the
best scientific information available, in consultation with
the affected fishing communities, States, or Tribes, of--
``(I) the information provided by the requester and any
additional information relevant to the fishery, which may
include--
``(aa) fishery characteristics;
``(bb) stock assessments;
``(cc) the most recent fishery independent surveys and
other fishery resource assessments and surveys conducted by
Federal, State, or Tribal officials;
``(dd) estimates of mortality; and
``(ee) overall effects; and
``(II) the available economic information, which may
include an analysis of--
``(aa) landings data;
``(bb) revenue;
``(cc) the number of participants involved;
``(dd) the number and type of jobs and persons impacted,
which may include--
``(AA) fishers;
``(BB) charter fishing operators;
``(CC) subsistence users;
``(DD) United States fish processors; and
``(EE) an owner of a related fishery infrastructure or
business affected by the disaster, such as a marina operator,
recreational fishing equipment retailer, or charter,
headboat, or tender vessel owner, operator, or crew;
``(ee) an impacted Indian Tribe;
``(ff) an impacted business or other entity;
``(gg) the availability of hazard insurance to address
financial losses due to a disaster;
``(hh) other forms of disaster assistance made available to
the fishery, including prior awards of disaster assistance
for the same event;
``(ii) the length of time the resource, or access to the
resource, has been restricted;
``(jj) status of recovery from previous fishery resource
disasters;
``(kk) lost resource tax revenues assessed by local
communities, such as a raw fish tax; and
``(ll) other appropriate indicators to an affected fishery,
as determined by the National Marine Fisheries Service.
``(ii) Time frame.--The Secretary shall complete the review
described in clause (i), if the fishing season, applicable to
the fishery--
``(I) has concluded or there is no defined fishing season
applicable to the fishery, not later than 120 days after the
Secretary receives a complete request for a fishery resource
disaster determination;
``(II) has not concluded, not later than 120 days after the
conclusion of the fishing season; or
``(III) has not been opened, not later than 120 days after
the Secretary receives a complete request for a fishery
resource disaster determination.
``(C) Fishery resource disaster determination.--The
Secretary shall make the determination of a fishery resource
disaster based on the criteria for determinations listed in
paragraph (5).
``(D) Notification.--Not later than 14 days after the
conclusion of the review under this paragraph, the Secretary
shall notify the requester and the Governor of the affected
State or Tribal representative of the determination of the
Secretary.
``(5) Criteria for determinations.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall make a determination
about whether a fishery resource disaster has occurred, based
on the revenue loss thresholds under subparagraph (B), and,
if a fishery resource disaster has occurred, whether the
fishery resource disaster was due to--
``(i) a natural cause;
``(ii) an anthropogenic cause;
``(iii) a combination of a natural cause and an
anthropogenic cause; or
``(iv) an undetermined cause.
``(B) Revenue loss thresholds.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall apply the following
12-month revenue loss thresholds in determining whether a
fishery resource disaster has occurred:
``(I) Losses greater than 80 percent shall result in a
positive determination that a fishery resource disaster has
occurred.
``(II) Losses between 35 percent and 80 percent shall be
evaluated to determine whether a fishery resource disaster
has occurred, based on the information provided or analyzed
under paragraph (4)(B).
``(III) Losses less than 35 percent shall not be eligible
for a determination that a fishery resource disaster has
occurred, except where the Secretary determines there are
extenuating circumstances that justify using a lower
threshold in making the determination.
``(ii) Charter fishing.--In making a determination of
whether a fishery resource disaster has occurred, the
Secretary shall consider the economic impacts to the charter
fishing industry to ensure financial coverage for charter
fishing businesses.
``(iii) Subsistence uses.--In making a determination of
whether a fishery resource disaster has occurred, the
Secretary may consider loss of subsistence opportunity, where
appropriate.
``(C) Ineligible fisheries.--A fishery subject to
overfishing in any of the 3 years preceding the date of a
determination under this subsection is not eligible for a
determination of whether a fishery resource disaster has
occurred unless the Secretary determines that overfishing was
not a contributing factor to the fishery resource disaster.
``(D) Exceptional circumstances.--In an exceptional
circumstance where substantial economic impacts to the
affected fishery and fishing community have been subject to a
disaster declaration under another statutory authority, such
as in the case of a natural disaster or from the direct
consequences of a Federal action taken to prevent, or in
response to, a natural disaster for purposes of protecting
life and safety, the Secretary may determine a fishery
resource disaster has occurred without a request or without
conducting the required analyses in subparagraphs (A) and
(B).
``(6) Disbursal of appropriated funds.--
``(A) Authorization.--The Secretary shall allocate funds
available under paragraph (9) for fishery resource disasters.
``(B) Allocation of appropriated fishery resource disaster
assistance.--
``(i) Notification of funding availability.--When there are
appropriated funds for 1 or more fishery resource disasters,
the Secretary shall notify the public and representatives of
affected fishing communities with a positive disaster
determination that is unfunded of the allocation under
paragraph (2)(B) not more than 14 days after the date of the
appropriation or the determination of a fishery resource
disaster, whichever occurs later.
``(ii) Extension of deadline.--The Secretary may extend the
deadline under clause (i) by 90 days to evaluate and make
determinations on eligible requests.
``(C) Considerations.--In determining the allocation of
appropriations for a fishery resource
[[Page S7870]]
disaster, the Secretary shall consider commercial, charter,
headboat, or seafood processing revenue losses and may
consider the following factors:
``(i) Direct economic impacts.
``(ii) Uninsured losses.
``(iii) Losses of subsistence and Tribal ceremonial fishing
opportunity.
``(iv) Losses of recreational fishing opportunity.
``(v) Aquaculture operations revenue loss.
``(vi) Direct revenue losses to a fishing community.
``(vii) Treaty obligations.
``(viii) Other economic impacts.
``(D) Spend plans.--To receive an allocation from funds
available under paragraph (9), a requester with an
affirmative fishery resource disaster determination shall
submit a spend plan to the Secretary, not more than 120 days
after receiving notification that funds are available, that
shall include the following information, if applicable:
``(i) Objectives and outcomes, with an emphasis on
addressing the factors contributing to the fishery resource
disaster and minimizing future uninsured losses, if
applicable.
``(ii) Statement of work.
``(iii) Budget details.
``(E) Regional contact.--The Secretary shall provide a
regional contact within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration to facilitate review of spend plans and
disbursal of funds.
``(F) Disbursal of funds.--
``(i) Availability.--Funds shall be disbursed not later
than 90 days after the date the Secretary receives a complete
spend plan under subparagraph (D).
``(ii) Method.--The Secretary may provide an allocation of
funds under this subsection in the form of a grant, direct
payment, cooperative agreement, loan, or contract.
``(iii) Eligible uses.--
``(I) In general.--Funds allocated for fishery resources
disasters under this subsection shall prioritize the
following uses, which are not in order of priority:
``(aa) Habitat conservation and restoration and other
activities, including scientific research, that reduce
adverse impacts to the fishery or improve understanding of
the affected species or its ecosystem.
``(bb) The collection of fishery information and other
activities that improve management of the affected fishery.
``(cc) In a commercial fishery, capacity reduction and
other activities that improve management of fishing effort,
including funds to offset budgetary costs to refinance a
Federal fishing capacity reduction loan or to repay the
principal of a Federal fishing capacity reduction loan.
``(dd) Developing, repairing, or improving fishery-related
public infrastructure.
``(ee) Job training and economic transition programs.
``(ff) Public information campaigns on the recovery of the
fishery, including marketing.
``(gg) For any purpose that the Secretary determines is
appropriate to restore the fishery affected by such a
disaster or to prevent a similar disaster in the future.
``(hh) Direct assistance to a person, fishing community
(including assistance for lost fisheries resource levies), or
a business to alleviate economic loss incurred as a direct
result of a fishery resource disaster, particularly when
affected by a circumstance described in paragraph (5)(D).
``(ii) Appropriate economic and other incentives to
encourage commercial fishermen to return to the fishery once
it has recovered from the disaster.
``(jj) Hatcheries and stock enhancement to help rebuild the
affected stock or offset fishing pressure on the affected
stock.
``(kk) Other activities that recover or improve management
of the affected fishery, as determined by the Secretary.
``(II) Displaced fishery employees.--Where appropriate,
individuals carrying out the activities described in items
(aa) through (ff) of subclause (I) shall be individuals who
are, or were, employed in a commercial, charter, or Tribal
fishery for which the Secretary has determined that a fishery
resource disaster has occurred.
``(7) Limitations.--
``(A) Federal share.--
``(i) In general.--Except as applied to Tribes and as
provided in clauses (ii) and (iii), the Federal share of the
cost of any activity carried out under the authority of this
subsection shall not exceed 75 percent of the cost of that
activity.
``(ii) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the non-Federal
share requirements of this subsection, if the Secretary
determines that--
``(I) no reasonable means are available through which the
recipient of the Federal share can meet the non-Federal share
requirement; and
``(II) the probable benefit of 100 percent Federal
financing outweighs the public interest in imposition of the
non-Federal share requirement.
``(iii) Exception.--The Federal share of direct assistance
as described in paragraph (6)(F)(iii)(I)(hh) shall be equal
to 100 percent.
``(B) Limitations on administrative expenses.--
``(i) Federal.--Not more than 3 percent of the funds
available under this subsection may be used for
administrative expenses by the National Oceanographic and
Atmospheric Administration.
``(ii) State or tribal governments.--Of the funds remaining
after the use described in clause (i), not more than 5
percent may be used by States, Tribal governments, or
interstate marine fisheries commissions for administrative
expenses.
``(C) Fishing capacity reduction program.--
``(i) In general.--No funds available under this subsection
may be used as part of a fishing capacity reduction program
in a fishery unless the Secretary determines that adequate
conservation and management measures are in place in such
fishery.
``(ii) Assistance conditions.--As a condition of providing
assistance under this subsection with respect to a vessel
under a fishing capacity reduction program, the Secretary
shall--
``(I) prohibit the vessel from being used for fishing; and
``(II) require that the vessel be--
``(aa) scrapped or otherwise disposed of in a manner
approved by the Secretary;
``(bb) donated to a nonprofit organization and thereafter
used only for purposes of research, education, or training;
or
``(cc) used for another non-fishing purpose provided the
Secretary determines that adequate measures are in place to
ensure that the vessel cannot reenter any fishery anywhere in
the world.
``(D) No fishery endorsement.--
``(i) In general.--A vessel that is prohibited from fishing
under subparagraph (C)(ii)(I) shall not be eligible for a
fishery endorsement under section 12113(a) of title 46,
United States Code.
``(ii) Noneffective.--A fishery endorsement for a vessel
described in clause (i) shall not be effective.
``(iii) No sale.--A vessel described in clause (i) shall
not be sold to a foreign owner or reflagged.
``(8) Public information on data collection.--The Secretary
shall make available and update as appropriate, information
on data collection and submittal best practices for the
information described in paragraph (4)(B).
``(9) Authorization of appropriations.--
``(A) Authorization.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this subsection such sums as may be
necessary.
``(B) Availability of funds.--Amounts appropriated under
this subsection shall remain available until expended.
``(C) Tax exempt status.--The Fisheries Disaster Fund
appropriated under this subsection shall be a tax exempt
fund.''.
SEC. 3. MAGNUSON-STEVENS FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT
ACT.
(a) Repeal.--Section 315 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1864) is repealed.
(b) Report.--Section 113(b)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of
2006 (16 U.S.C. 460ss note) is amended--
(1) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``Annual report''
and inserting ``Report'';
(2) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this
Act, and annually thereafter'' and inserting ``Not later than
2 years after the date of enactment of the Fishery Failures:
Urgently Needed Disaster Declarations Act, and biennially
thereafter''; and
(3) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``the calendar year
2003'' and inserting ``the most recent''.
SEC. 4. INTERJURISDICTIONAL FISHERIES ACT OF 1986.
(a) Repeal.--Section 308 of the Interjurisdictional
Fisheries Act of 1986 (16. U.S.C. 4107) is repealed.
(b) Technical Edit.--Section 3(k)(1) of the Small Business
Act (15 U.S.C. 632(k)(1)) is amended by striking ``(as
determined by the Secretary of Commerce under section 308(b)
of the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986)'' and
inserting ``(as determined by the Secretary of Commerce under
the Fishery Failures: Urgently Needed Disaster Declarations
Act)''.
SEC. 5. BUDGET REQUESTS; REPORTS.
(a) Budget Request.--In the budget justification materials
submitted to Congress in support of the budget of the
Department of Commerce for each fiscal year (as submitted
with the budget of the President under section 1105(a) of
title 31, United States Code), the Secretary of Commerce
shall include a separate statement of the amount requested to
be appropriated for that fiscal year for outstanding unfunded
fishery resource disasters.
(b) Driftnet Act Amendments of 1990 Report and Bycatch
Reduction Agreements.--
(1) In general.--The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) is amended--
(A) in section 202(h), by striking paragraph (3); and
(B) in section 206--
(i) by striking subsections (e) and (f); and
(ii) by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as
subsections (e) and (f), respectively.
(2) Biennial report on international compliance.--Section
607 of the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection
Act (16 U.S.C. 1826h) is amended--
(A) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``The
Secretary'' and indenting appropriately; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Additional Information.--In addition to the
information described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of
subsection (a), the report shall include--
``(1) a description of the actions taken to carry out the
provisions of section 206 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1826), including--
``(A) an evaluation of the progress of those efforts, the
impacts on living marine resources, including available
observer data, and specific plans for further action;
``(B) a list and description of any new fisheries developed
by nations that conduct, or authorize their nationals to
conduct, large-scale driftnet fishing beyond the exclusive
economic zone of any nation; and
``(C) a list of the nations that conduct, or authorize
their nationals to conduct, large-scale driftnet fishing
beyond the exclusive economic
[[Page S7871]]
zone of any nation in a manner that diminishes the
effectiveness of or is inconsistent with any international
agreement governing large-scale driftnet fishing to which the
United States is a party or otherwise subscribes; and
``(2) a description of the actions taken to carry out the
provisions of section 202(h) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1822(h)).
``(c) Certification.--If, at any time, the Secretary, in
consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating,
identifies any nation that warrants inclusion in the list
described under subsection (b)(1)(C), due to large scale
drift net fishing, the Secretary shall certify that fact to
the President. Such certification shall be deemed to be a
certification for the purposes of section 8(a) of the
Fishermen's Protective Act of 1967 (22 U.S.C. 1978(a)).''.
(c) Report on Efforts to Prepare and Adapt United States
Fishery Management for the Impacts of Climate Change.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United
States shall submit a report to Congress examining efforts by
the Regional Fishery Management Councils, the Atlantic States
Marine Fisheries Commission, and the National Marine
Fisheries Service to prepare and adapt to the impacts of
climate change.
(2) Contents of study.--The report required under paragraph
(1) shall include--
(A) an examination of current or previous efforts
(including the 2016 GAO Report on Federal Fisheries
Management ), and whether those efforts have resulted in
changes to management, by the Regional Fishery Management
Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission,
and the National Marine Fisheries Service to prepare and
adapt Federal and jointly managed fisheries for the impacts
of climate change;
(B) an examination of any guidance issued to the Regional
Fishery Management Councils by the National Marine Fisheries
Service to prepare and adapt Federal fishery management for
the impacts of climate change and whether and how that
guidance has been utilized;
(C) identification of and recommendations for how best to
address the most significant economic, social, ecological, or
other knowledge gaps, as well as key funding gaps, that would
increase the ability of the Regional Fishery Management
Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, or
the National Marine Fisheries Service to prepare and adapt
fishery management for the impacts of climate change;
(D) recommendations for how the Regional Fishery Management
Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission,
and the National Marine Fisheries Service can better adapt
fishery management and prepare associated fishing industries
and dependent communities for the impacts of climate change;
and
(E) recommendations for how to enhance the capacity of the
National Marine Fisheries Service to monitor climate-related
changes to fisheries and marine ecosystems, to understand the
mechanisms of change, to evaluate risks and priorities, to
provide forecasts and projections of future conditions, to
communicate scientific advice, and to better manage fisheries
under changing conditions due to climate change.
Mr. BLUNT. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported
substitute be withdrawn; that the Wicker substitute 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 committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was
withdrawn.
The amendment (No. 2723) in the nature of a substitute was agreed to
as follows:
(Purpose: In the nature of a substitute.)
(The amendment is printed in today's Record under ``Text of
Amendments.'')
The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read
the third time.
Mr. BLUNT. I know of no further debate on the bill.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate on the bill?
Hearing none, the bill having been read the third time, the question
is, Shall the bill pass?
The bill (S. 2346), as amended, was passed.
Mr. BLUNT. 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.
____________________