[House Report 116-642] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 116th Congress } { Report HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session } { 116-642 ====================================================================== CLIMATE-READY FISHERIES ACT OF 2019 _______ December 14, 2020.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed _______ Mr. Grijalva, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the following R E P O R T [To accompany H.R. 4679] [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 4679) to require the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to Congress a report examining efforts by the Regional Fishery Management Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the National Marine Fisheries Service to prepare and adapt United States fishery management for the impacts of climate change, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass. PURPOSE OF THE BILL The purpose of H.R. 4679 is to require the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to Congress a report examining efforts by the Regional Fishery Management Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the National Marine Fisheries Service to prepare and adapt United States fishery management for the impacts of climate change. BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's recent report on the ocean and cryosphere reported that warming and changing ocean conditions are already impacting fisheries catches and the geographic distribution and size of fish stocks, which could lead to negative impacts on income, livelihood, and food security of dependent communities, not to mention conflicts between and within countries.\1\ Economic impacts are already being seen: a recent study found that climate variability from 1996 to 2017 reduced fishing employment by 16 percent in New England, an area that employs 20 percent of commercial harvesters in the United States.\2\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\IPCC, 2019: IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate. In press. \2\Oremus, K., Climate variability reduces employment in New England Fisheries, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Dec 2019, 201820154; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1820154116. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- COMMITTEE ACTION H.R. 4679 was introduced on October 15, 2019, by Representative Joe Cunningham (D-SC). The bill was referred solely to the Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife. On January 14, 2020, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On January 29, 2020, the Natural Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee was discharged by unanimous consent. No amendments were offered, and the bill was adopted and ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by a roll call vote of 22 yeas and 15 nays, as follows:HEARINGS For the purposes of section 103(i) of H. Res. 6 of the 116th Congress--the following hearing was used to develop or consider H.R. 4679: legislative hearing by the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife held on January 14, 2020. SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the ``Climate-Ready Fisheries Act of 2019.'' Section 2. Findings. Section 3. Report on efforts to prepare and adapt United States fishery management for the impacts of climate change. This section directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on efforts by regional fishery management councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to prepare for and adapt to the impacts of climate change, and to make recommendations on how to address the most significant knowledge and funding gaps that could increase the ability of these bodies to prepare and adapt fishery management for the impacts of climate change; how to prepare fishing industries and communities for climate change impacts; and how to enhance the capacity of NMFS to monitor and better manage climate- related changes to fisheries and marine ecosystems. COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report. COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII AND CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT 1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act. With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) and (3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and sections 308(a) and 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the following estimate for the bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office: U.S. Congress, Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC, March 10, 2020. Hon. Raul M. Grijalva, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4679, the Climate- Ready Fisheries Act of 2019. If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Robert Reese. Sincerely, Phillip L. Swagel, Director. Enclosure.
H.R. 4679 would direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study and report to the Congress on the efforts taken by the regional fishery management councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to prepare for and adapt to the impacts of climate change on U.S. fishery resources. The bill would require GAO to submit their findings within one year of enactment. Using information about the costs of similar GAO reports, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4679 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2020-2025 period. Any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds. The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Robert Reese. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis. 2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goals and objectives of this bill are to require the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to Congress a report examining efforts by the Regional Fishery Management Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the National Marine Fisheries Service to prepare and adapt United States fishery management for the impacts of climate change. EARMARK STATEMENT This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. UNFUNDED MANDATES REFORM ACT STATEMENT This bill contains no unfunded mandates. EXISTING PROGRAMS This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of the federal government known to be duplicative of another program. APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act. PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL LAW Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the U.S. Constitution. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW If enacted, this bill would make no changes to existing law. SUPPLEMENTAL, MINORITY, ADDITIONAL, OR DISSENTING VIEWS None.