[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 212 (Tuesday, December 16, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S8792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4052. Mr. MERKLEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill H.R. 4016, making appropriations for the Department 
of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other 
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE.

       (a) In General.--The National Marine Fisheries Service 
     shall maintain staffing levels to carry out its statutory 
     obligations, including to--
       (1) ensure timely completion of consultations required 
     under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
     seq.) and Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 
     1361 et seq.);
       (2) adequately address the backlog of consultations 
     required under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 for the 
     permitting of infrastructure projects; and
       (3) ensure timely completion of fishery stock assessments 
     under Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.
       (b) Hiring Assessment.--Not later than 1 year after the 
     date of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, 
     the Director of the National Marine Fisheries Service shall 
     submit to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 
     Atmosphere, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations 
     of the Senate, the Committee on Science, Space, and 
     Technology of the House of Representatives, and the Committee 
     on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, an 
     assessment of the milestones, timelines, and service-level 
     expectations required for the hiring and timely on-boarding 
     of employees of the National Marine Fisheries Service.
                                 ______