*Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2018 *

**Statement on Signing the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2018 **

*December 31, 2018 *

Today, I have signed into law S. 1520, the "Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2018" (the "Act"). The Act, however, further strengthens the Regional Fishery Management Councils, which were first established by the Magnuson-Stevens Act of 1976 to promulgate fishery management plans. The power of these Councils has steadily increased over time, raising constitutional concerns related to the manner of the appointment and removal of their members and of members of certain scientific and statistical committees that assist them. Keeping with past practice of the executive branch, my Administration will treat the plans promulgated by the Council as advisory only; the adoption of the plans will be subject to the discretion of the Secretary of Commerce as part of the regulatory process described in section 304 of the Magnuson Stevens Act.

DONALD J. TRUMP

The White House,

December 31, 2018.

NOTE: S. 1520, approved December 31, was assigned Public Law No. 115–405.

*Categories:* Bill Signings and Vetoes : Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2018, signing statement*.*

*Subjects:* Environment : Conservation :: Fishery stocks, management efforts; Legislation, enacted : Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2018; Presidency, U.S. : Constitutional role and powers.

*DCPD Number:* DCPD201800877.