[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15727-15728]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                WEST COAST DUNGENESS CRAB MANAGEMENT ACT

  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2168) to make the current Dungeness crab fishery management 
regime permanent and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2168

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``West Coast Dungeness Crab 
     Management Act''.

     SEC. 2. DUNGENESS CRAB FISHERY MANAGEMENT.

       Section 203 of the Act entitled ``An Act to approve a 
     governing international fishery agreement between the United 
     States and the Republic of Poland, and for other purposes'', 
     approved November 13, 1998 (Public Law 105-384; 16 U.S.C. 
     1856 note) is amended--
       (1) by striking subsection (i); and
       (2) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (i).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Newhouse) and the gentleman from the Northern Mariana 
Islands (Mr. Sablan) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today, we are considering H.R. 2168, sponsored by my 
friend and fellow Washingtonian, Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler.
  This bipartisan, consensus-based legislation makes permanent the 
longstanding management of the Dungeness crab fishery by Washington, 
Oregon, and California. The three States manage this crab fishery under 
the umbrella of the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. 
Management is funded by the participating States.
  We must pass legislation to continue this management. In fact, the 
Congressional Budget Office recently estimated that H.R. 2168 would 
save the Federal Government up to $1 million in discretionary Federal 
spending since State management would continue under this bill.
  If State management expires and this bill is not enacted, then the 
Federal Government would have to expend new resources to manage the 
fishery. This bill keeps that from happening. The States have shown 
that they are exemplary at handling this management and it is 
unnecessary for this authority to fall to the Federal Government.
  This bill is a win for the American taxpayer, a win for the seafood 
consumer, a win for my home State as well as the States of Oregon and 
California, and a win for those employed by the sustainable harvest of 
the species.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan 
legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 2168 would repeal the sunset clause from legislation that allows 
the West Coast Dungeness crab fishery in Federal waters to be managed 
cooperatively by the States instead of by the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA.

[[Page 15728]]



                              {time}  1915

  The Dungeness crab fishery is one of the most valuable fisheries on 
the Pacific Coast, and it is a model of effective marine resource 
management.
  The specifics of the fishery, including robust stock assessments, 
accurate catch reporting, and harmony between Federal waters commercial 
fishermen and near-shore recreational crabbers, make regional 
management a good choice.
  California, Oregon, and Washington have managed the fisheries 
together with oversight from NOAA since 1980 and have proven they can 
do so responsibly.
  H.R. 2168 would allow the States to continue managing the Dungeness 
fishery without having to return to Congress every several years for 
permission.
  As opposed to a fishery like the Gulf of Mexico red snapper, 
management of the Dungeness crab is based on cooperation among States 
and fishing sectors as well as respect for the best available science, 
and the States have proven to be good stewards of the resource.
  I agree with the goals of this legislation, and I ask my colleagues 
to stand with me in support.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Washington (Ms. Herrera Beutler), my colleague and friend, who has 
committed to me that she will go to every effort to make sure she has 
samples of Dungeness crab in her office so we all know what we are 
talking about.
  Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues 
to support H.R. 2168, the West Coast Dungeness Crab Management Act. 
This bipartisan bill is an important solution for residents of coastal 
communities in southwest Washington.
  The successful, two-decades-old tri-state Dungeness crab management 
agreement will expire September 30 of 2016. This bill simply makes 
permanent the management authority between Washington, Oregon, and 
California. This management authority has worked.
  For the last 20 years, these States have overseen one of the most 
valuable fisheries in the Pacific Northwest. In 2014, fishermen 
delivered 53 million pounds of crab, totaling $170 million. This 
economic activity helped support the 61,000 jobs relating to the 
seafood industry in Washington State alone.
  How has it maintained this success? The fishery has been managed in a 
sustainable way. And, importantly, it doesn't cost taxpayers a dime.
  However, should this authority expire, the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, says its management of the fishery 
will cost taxpayers over $1.15 million each year.
  So, simply put, this bill maintains local control on the West Coast 
and ensures sustainability of the Dungeness crab fishery, and it saves 
taxpayer dollars.
  I want to thank Chairman Bishop and the House Natural Resource staff 
for bringing this bill to the floor. It is common sense.
  I urge the House to vote ``yes'' on this bill to ensure a bright, 
sustainable economic future for coastal crab-dependent communities like 
Ilwaco, Washington, and many others on the West Coast.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge my 
colleagues to support H.R. 2168.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I, too, have no further speakers. I urge 
my colleagues to support this good, bipartisan piece of legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Newhouse) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2168, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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