[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 23, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5267-S5269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3014. Mr. WHITEHOUSE submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed by him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for 
fiscal year 2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, 
for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department 
of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal 
year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the end of subtitle H of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1095. OFFICE OF AQUACULTURE AND WILD SEAFOOD POLICY AND 
                   PROGRAM INTEGRATION.

       Subtitle B of title VI of the Agricultural Research, 
     Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7651 et 
     seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 621. OFFICE OF AQUACULTURE AND WILD SEAFOOD POLICY AND 
                   PROGRAM INTEGRATION.

       ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to establish 
     an Office of Aquaculture and Wild Seafood Policy and Program 
     Integration to provide for the effective coordination of 
     aquaculture and wild seafood policies and activities within 
     the Department, and in coordination with the Secretary of 
     Commerce, the United States Trade Representative, the 
     Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and the heads of other 
     necessary Federal agencies relating to the support of 
     domestically harvested and processed wild seafood and 
     aquaculture products and aquaculture operations.
       ``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Aquaculture.--The term `aquaculture' has the meaning 
     given the term in section 3 of the National Aquaculture Act 
     of 1980 (16 U.S.C. 2802).
       ``(2) Aquaculture product.--The term `aquaculture product' 
     means a farm-raised aquatic or marine animal cultivated in 
     the United States, including--
       ``(A) shellfish (including oysters, clams, and mussels);
       ``(B) micro- and macro-algae;
       ``(C) animals cultivated within land-based systems; and
       ``(D) other animals, as determined by the Secretary, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the heads of 
     other Federal agencies, as applicable.
       ``(3) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of 
     the Office appointed under subsection (c)(2).

[[Page S5268]]

       ``(4) Office.--The term `Office' means the Office of 
     Aquaculture and Wild Seafood Policy and Program Integration 
     established under subsection (c)(1).
       ``(5) Wild seafood.--
       ``(A) In general.--The term `wild seafood' means a natural-
     born or hatchery-raised finfish, mollusk, crustacean, or 
     other form of aquatic animal life that is--
       ``(i) harvested from a natural habitat; and
       ``(ii) used for human consumption.
       ``(B) Inclusions.--The term `wild seafood' includes--
       ``(i) a fillet, a steak, a nugget, and any other flesh from 
     wild fish or shellfish;
       ``(ii) fish oil; and
       ``(iii) any other nonflesh product of wild fish or 
     shellfish.
       ``(C) Exclusions.--The term `wild seafood' does not 
     include--
       ``(i) marine mammals; or
       ``(ii) seabirds.
       ``(c) Establishment.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish in the 
     Office of the Chief Economist an office, to be known as the 
     `Office of Aquaculture and Wild Seafood Policy and Program 
     Integration'.
       ``(2) Director.--The Office shall be headed by a Director 
     of Aquaculture and Wild Seafood Policy and Program 
     Integration, who shall be appointed by the Secretary.
       ``(d) Responsibilities.--The Office shall be responsible 
     for--
       ``(1) the development and coordination of Department and 
     interagency policy on wild seafood and aquaculture products, 
     including technological and policy input, advice on wild 
     seafood and aquaculture issues, and support for aquaculture- 
     and wild seafood-producing operations that promote United 
     States food security;
       ``(2) providing strategic oversight, planning, 
     implementation, communication, and coordination of Department 
     and interagency activities for wild seafood and aquaculture 
     products--
       ``(A) to strengthen United States wild seafood and 
     aquaculture production and supply chains;
       ``(B) to facilitate wild seafood and aquaculture product 
     research and nutrition science;
       ``(C) to maintain, develop, and expand markets for wild 
     seafood, wild seafood products, and aquaculture products;
       ``(D) to incorporate wild seafood and aquaculture 
     production into economic analyses, reviews, and forecasts, in 
     coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration and other relevant Federal agencies;
       ``(E) to integrate United States wild seafood and 
     aquaculture production into Federal policy strategies and 
     relevant programs of the Department to ensure--
       ``(i) food system security and climate-resilient food 
     production;
       ``(ii) rural business development to support food security 
     and wild seafood and aquaculture production; and
       ``(iii) wild seafood and aquaculture product nutrition and 
     consumption education activities;
       ``(F) to engage in stakeholder relations and develop 
     external partnerships relating to sustainable wild seafood 
     harvest and aquaculture practices and to oversee extension 
     and outreach efforts to support aquaculture and wild seafood 
     producers and businesses; and
       ``(G) to identify common State and municipal best practices 
     for navigating local policies relating to wild seafood and 
     aquaculture production and marketing;
       ``(3) providing scientific and policy analysis to advise 
     the Secretary and the Chief Economist regarding the 
     development, availability, promotion, and use of domestically 
     produced wild seafood and aquaculture products in Department 
     programs and policies;
       ``(4) identifying opportunities to provide integrated 
     access for United States wild seafood and aquaculture 
     producers to Department programs to more efficiently and 
     effectively--
       ``(A) support the modernization and development of--
       ``(i) consumer education and outreach on the health and 
     nutrition benefits of wild seafood and aquaculture product 
     consumption;
       ``(ii) harvesting and production technologies and processes 
     that minimize waste and reduce environmental impacts;
       ``(iii) value-added wild seafood and aquaculture product 
     processing and product development;
       ``(iv) infrastructure capacity to support the harvesting 
     and production of wild seafood and aquaculture products in 
     rural communities; and
       ``(v) technical assistance relating to best practices for 
     aquaculture producers and businesses, including for 
     shellfish, algae, and land-based systems--

       ``(I) using the best available science; and
       ``(II) in coordination with the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration and other relevant Federal 
     agencies;

       ``(B) strengthen capacity for local and regional wild 
     seafood and aquaculture system development through community 
     collaboration and expansion of local and regional supply 
     chains;
       ``(C) work to improve income and economic opportunities for 
     wild seafood and aquaculture producers and food businesses 
     through job creation and improved regional food system 
     infrastructure, especially in rural communities;
       ``(D) serve as a conduit of information regarding 
     Department application eligibility and processes to support 
     aquaculture products and domestically harvested wild seafood 
     in all applicable Department programs, including food 
     commodity promotion, producer assistance, risk mitigation, 
     and disaster programs; and
       ``(E) increase access to, and use of, seafood (including 
     wild seafood and aquaculture products) in the school lunch 
     program established under the Richard B. Russell National 
     School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) to levels 
     commensurate with Food and Drug Administration dietary 
     guidelines;
       ``(5) collecting and disseminating data relating to 
     aquaculture and wild seafood production, in coordination with 
     the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other 
     relevant Federal agencies; and
       ``(6) performing such other functions as may be required by 
     law or prescribed by the Secretary.
       ``(e) Interagency Agreement for Coordination.--
       ``(1) In general.--In support of the responsibilities 
     described in subsection (d), the Office shall provide 
     leadership to ensure coordination of interagency activities 
     with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 
     United States Trade Representative, the Environmental 
     Protection Agency, the Office of Science and Technology 
     Policy, and other Federal and State agencies.
       ``(2) Interagency agreement.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Office shall develop an agreement to 
     be entered into between the Department and the National 
     Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to enhance wild 
     seafood and aquaculture purchases through the school lunch 
     program established under the Richard B. Russell National 
     School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.).
       ``(B) Requirements.--The agreement under subparagraph (A) 
     shall establish information-sharing protocols, including 
     sharing with the Department the list of domestic seafood 
     vendors of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration.
       ``(f) Outreach.--The Office shall consult with wild seafood 
     harvesters and aquaculture producers that may be affected by 
     policies or actions of the Department, as necessary, in 
     carrying out the responsibilities of the Office described in 
     subsection (d).
       ``(g) Aquaculture Advisory Committee.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish 
     an advisory committee, to be known as the `Aquaculture 
     Advisory Committee' (referred to in this subsection as the 
     `Committee'), to advise the Secretary with respect to--
       ``(A) the development of policies and outreach relating to 
     sustainable aquaculture practices;
       ``(B) the history, use, and preservation of indigenous and 
     traditional aquaculture practices and ecological knowledge; 
     and
       ``(C) any other aspects relating to the implementation of 
     this section.
       ``(2) Membership.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall be composed of 14 
     members, to be appointed by the Secretary, of whom--
       ``(i) 1 shall be a representative of the Department, who 
     shall serve as chairperson of the Committee;
       ``(ii) 4 shall be aquaculture producers who employ best 
     practices and limit adverse effects that result from the 
     operations of the aquaculture producers;
       ``(iii) 2 shall be representatives of Indian Tribes, Tribal 
     organizations, or Native Hawaiian organizations;
       ``(iv) 1 shall be a representative of a State or interstate 
     commission;
       ``(v) 1 shall be a representative of an institution of 
     higher education or an extension program;
       ``(vi) 1 shall be a representative of a nonprofit 
     organization, which may include a public health, 
     environmental, or community organization;
       ``(vii) 1 shall be a representative of a relevant port, 
     coastal, or waterfront community;
       ``(viii) 1 shall be an individual with--

       ``(I) supply chain experience, which may include experience 
     relating to a food aggregator, a wholesale food distributor, 
     or a food hub; or
       ``(II) direct-to-consumer market experience;

       ``(ix) 1 shall be an individual with experience or 
     expertise relating to aquaculture production practices, as 
     determined by the Secretary; and
       ``(x) 1 shall be a representative of aquaculture end-users, 
     including a chef, a member of the food service industry, or a 
     grocer.
       ``(B) Initial appointments.--The Secretary shall appoint 
     the initial members of the Committee not later than 180 days 
     after the date of enactment of this section.
       ``(3) Period of appointment; vacancies.--
       ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
     (B)(i), a member of the Committee shall be appointed for a 
     term of 3 years.
       ``(B) Initial appointments.--
       ``(i) Terms of service.--Of the members initially appointed 
     to the Committee under paragraph (2)(B), as the Secretary 
     determines to be appropriate--

       ``(I) 5 shall be appointed for a term of 3 years;
       ``(II) 5 shall be appointed for a term of 2 years; and
       ``(III) 4 shall be appointed for a term of 1 year.

       ``(ii) Consecutive terms.--A member initially appointed to 
     the Committee may serve

[[Page S5269]]

     an additional consecutive term if the member is reappointed 
     by the Secretary.
       ``(C) Vacancies.--Any vacancy on the Committee--
       ``(i) shall not affect the powers of the Committee; and
       ``(ii) shall be filled as soon as practicable in the same 
     manner as the original appointment.
       ``(4) Meetings.--
       ``(A) Frequency.--The Committee shall meet not fewer than 3 
     times per year.
       ``(B) Initial meeting.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date on which the members are appointed under paragraph 
     (2)(B), the Committee shall hold the first meeting of the 
     Committee.
       ``(5) Duties.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall--
       ``(i) develop recommendations and advise the Director with 
     respect to aquaculture policies, initiatives, and outreach 
     administered by the Office;
       ``(ii) evaluate and review ongoing research and extension 
     activities relating to aquaculture practices;
       ``(iii) identify new and existing barriers to successful 
     aquaculture practices; and
       ``(iv) provide to the Director additional assistance and 
     advice, as appropriate.
       ``(B) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date on 
     which the Committee is established, and every 2 years 
     thereafter through 2028, the Committee shall submit a report 
     describing the recommendations developed under subparagraph 
     (A) to--
       ``(i) the Secretary;
       ``(ii) the Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
     Forestry and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate; and
       ``(iii) the Committees on Agriculture and Natural Resources 
     of the House of Representatives.
       ``(6) Personnel matters.--
       ``(A) Compensation.--A member of the Committee shall serve 
     without compensation.
       ``(B) Travel expenses.--A member of the Committee shall be 
     allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
     subsistence, in accordance with section 5703 of title 5, 
     United States Code.
       ``(7) Termination.--
       ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
     Committee shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after 
     the date on which the members are appointed under paragraph 
     (2)(B).
       ``(B) Extensions.--Before the date on which the Committee 
     terminates, the Secretary may renew the Committee for 1 or 
     more 2-year periods.
       ``(h) Wild Seafood Advisory Committee.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish 
     an advisory committee, to be known as the `Wild Seafood 
     Advisory Committee' (referred to in this subsection as the 
     `Committee'), to advise the Secretary with respect to--
       ``(A) the development of policies and outreach relating to 
     sustainable wild seafood product support and practices;
       ``(B) the history, use, and preservation of indigenous and 
     traditional aquaculture practices and ecological knowledge; 
     and
       ``(C) any other aspects relating to the implementation of 
     this section.
       ``(2) Membership.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall be composed of 14 
     members, to be appointed by the Secretary in a manner that 
     ensures--
       ``(i) balanced representation among--

       ``(I) commercial harvesters and processors of wild seafood;
       ``(II) consumer, academic, Tribal, governmental, and supply 
     chain experts; and
       ``(III) experts in other interest areas; and

       ``(ii) geographic diversity.
       ``(B) Qualifications.--Each member of the Committee shall 
     have expertise or experience relating to 1 or more of the 
     following:
       ``(i) Harvesting wild seafood.
       ``(ii) Processing or marketing wild seafood or wild seafood 
     products.
       ``(iii) Holding a leadership role in a national, State, or 
     regional organization representing wild seafood interests or 
     seafood commodity interests.
       ``(iv) Representing consumers of wild seafood or wild 
     seafood products through active, sustained participation in a 
     local, State, or national organization.
       ``(v) Teaching, writing, researching, or consulting on 
     matters relating to wild seafood as a food commodity.
       ``(vi) Public health, environmental, or community 
     organizations.
       ``(vii) Wild seafood-producing port, coastal, or waterfront 
     communities.
       ``(viii) Supply chains, which may include a food 
     aggregator, wholesale food distributor, or food hub.
       ``(ix) Direct-to-consumer markets.
       ``(C) Initial appointments.--The Secretary shall appoint 
     the initial members of the Committee not later than 180 days 
     after the date of enactment of this section.
       ``(3) Period of appointment; vacancies.--
       ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
     (B)(i), a member of the Committee shall be appointed for a 
     term of 3 years.
       ``(B) Initial appointments.--
       ``(i) Terms of service.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
     the terms of the members initially appointed to the Committee 
     under paragraph (2)(B) are staggered such that the terms of 
     not more than approximately \1/3\ of the membership of the 
     Committee shall expire during any single year.
       ``(ii) Consecutive terms.--A member initially appointed to 
     the Committee may serve an additional consecutive term if the 
     member is reappointed by the Secretary.
       ``(C) Vacancies.--Any vacancy on the Committee--
       ``(i) shall not affect the powers of the Committee; and
       ``(ii) shall be filled as soon as practicable in the same 
     manner as the original appointment.
       ``(4) Chairperson; vice chairperson.--The Secretary shall 
     designate a chairperson and vice chairperson from among the 
     members of the Committee.
       ``(5) Meetings.--
       ``(A) Frequency.--The Committee shall meet at least 1 time 
     per year.
       ``(B) Initial meeting.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date on which the members are appointed under paragraph 
     (2)(B), the Committee shall hold the first meeting of the 
     Committee.
       ``(6) Duties.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall--
       ``(i) develop recommendations and advise the Director with 
     respect to wild seafood policies, initiatives, and outreach 
     administered by the Office;
       ``(ii) evaluate and review ongoing research, support 
     efforts, and other activities relating to wild seafood 
     production and supply chains;
       ``(iii) identify new and existing barriers to successful 
     wild seafood food production and distribution; and
       ``(iv) provide additional assistance and advice to the 
     Director as appropriate.
       ``(B) Reports.--Not later than 2 years after the date on 
     which the Committee is established, and every 2 years 
     thereafter through 2028, the Committee shall submit a report 
     describing the recommendations developed under subparagraph 
     (A) to--
       ``(i) the Secretary;
       ``(ii) the Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
     Forestry and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate; and
       ``(iii) the Committees on Agriculture and Natural Resources 
     of the House of Representatives.
       ``(7) Personnel matters.--
       ``(A) Compensation.--A member of the Committee shall serve 
     without compensation.
       ``(B) Travel expenses.--A member of the Committee shall be 
     allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
     subsistence, in accordance with section 5703 of title 5, 
     United States Code.
       ``(8) Termination.--
       ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
     Committee shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after 
     the date on which the members are appointed under paragraph 
     (2)(B).
       ``(B) Extensions.--Before the date on which the Committee 
     terminates, the Secretary may renew the Committee for 1 or 
     more 2-year periods.
       ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section--
       ``(1) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 
     2028; and
       ``(2) such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 
     2029 through 2033.''.
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