,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gii ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #ae1 #bjac ,mr4 ,tierney 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,keating1 ,mr4 ,lynch1 ,mr4 ,jones1 ,mr4 ,langevin1 and ,mr4 ,cicilline7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to provide exclusive funding to support fisheries and the communities that rely upon them1 to clear unnecessary regulatory burdens and streamline ,federal fisheries management1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,fisheries ,disaster ,relief and ,research ,investment ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,section #b7;a7 of the ,act of ,august #aa1 #aici 7commonly known as the ,saltonstall-,kennedy ,act7 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #gac;c-#c7;a771 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating paragraph 7#a7 as paragraph 7#b72 7#b7 by inserting before paragraph 7#b71 as redesignated1 the following3 7#a7 ,the term fishery investment committee means a committee of a regional fishery management council established under subsection 7c77#a74 2 7#c7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#b71 7#c71 7#d71 and 7#e7 as paragraphs 7#d71 7#e71 7#f71 and 7#g71 respectively2 7#d7 by inserting before paragraph 7#d71 as redesignated1 the following3 7#c7 ,the term regional fishery investment plan means a plan developed by a fishery investment committee under subsection 7c77#b74 2 and 7#e7 by adding at the end the following3 7#h7 ,the applicable definition under section #c of the ,magnuson-,stevens ,fishery ,conservation and ,management ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ahjb71 shall apply to any term used in this ,act that is not defined under this subsection4 4 #c4 ,regional fisheries investment grant program 7a7 ,regional ,fisheries ,investment ,grant ,program and ,fishery ,investment ,plans ,section #b of the ,act of ,august #aa1 #aici 7commonly known as the ,saltonstall-,kennedy ,act7 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #gac;c-#c71 is amended by amending subsection 7c7 to read as follows3 7c7 ,strengthening ,regional ,fisheries ,management 7#a7 ,fishery investment committees 7,a7 ,establishment ,each ,council shall establish and maintain1 under the authority of section #cjb7;g7 of the ,magnuson-,stevens ,fishery ,conservation and ,management ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aheb7;g771 a fishery investment committee4 ,each fishery investment committee shall be comprised of not more than #ac individuals4 7,b7 ,authority ,each fishery investment committee shall-- 7i7 develop a regional fishery investment plan under subsection 7c77#b72 7ii7 review grant applications and projects to implement its regional fishery investment plan2 and 7iii7 make recommendations1 based on its findings1 to the ,council on grant applications and projects to implement its regional fishery investment plan4 7,c7 ,membership 7i7 ,qualifications ,each member of a fishery investment committee shall be an individual who1 by reason of the individual's occupational experience or other experience1 scientific expertise1 or training1 is knowledgeable of the conservation and management of1 or the commercial or recreational catch of1 the fishery resources of the geographical area concerned4 7ii7 ,nominations ,each member of a fishery investment committee-- 7,i7 shall be nominated and elected by the applicable ,council during a public meeting of the ,council2 7,,ii7 shall serve for a #c-year term2 and 7,,iii7 may be re-elected for an additional #c-year consecutive term4 7iii7 ,conflicts of interest ,a member of a fishery investment committee shall recuse himself or herself from considering any grant application that the member has a financial interest that would require disclosure under section #cjb7;j77#b7 of the ,magnuson-,stevens ,fishery ,conservation and ,management ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aheb7;j77#b774 7,d7 ,composition ,each fishery investment committee shall be multi-disciplinary1 reflect the geographic balance of the ,council1 and include at least #a representative of-- 7i7 the commercial fishing community2 7ii7 the private recreational angling community2 7iii7 the for-profit charter fishing community2 7iv7 the public interest in marine conservation who-- 7,i7 does not derive an annual income from commercial or recreational fishing2 and 7,,ii7 is not employed by any person who derives an annual income from commercial or recreational fishing2 7v7 each ,state government in the region2 7vi7 relevant interstate commissions2 7vii7 federally recognized tribes1 where applicable2 and 7viii7 research institutions4 7#b7 ,regional ,fishery ,investment ,plans ,each fishery investment committee shall develop a regional fishery investment plan that identifies critical research1 conservation1 and management needs and corresponding actions to facilitate rebuilding and maintaining healthy fish populations and sustainable fisheries over a #e-year period4 ,each plan shall-- 7,a7 be consistent with the current #e-year research priority plans developed under section #cjb7;h77#g7 of the ,magnuson-,stevens ,fishery ,conservation and ,management ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aheb7;h77#g772 7,b7 include areas of investment that are critical for rebuilding and maintaining healthy ,united ,states fish populations and promoting sustainable fisheries1 including-- 7i7 stock surveys1 stock assessments and analysis1 and cooperative fishery research1 in conjunction with the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 involving fishery participants1 academic institutions1 and other interested parties2 7ii7 efforts to improve the collection and accuracy of fishery catch data1 including-- 7,i7 expanding the use of1 and research and development on1 catch monitoring and reporting programs and technology1 both at-sea and shoreside1 including the use of electronic monitoring devices and satellite tracking systems2 and 7,,ii7 improving data collection for recreational fisheries1 including improvements to the ,marine ,recreational ,fishery ,statistics ,survey in accordance with section #dja7;g77#c7 of the ,magnuson-,stevens ,fishery ,conservation and ,management ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ahha7;g77#c772 7iii7 analyzing the social and economic impacts of fishery management decisions2 7iv7 providing financial assistance to1 and investment in1 fishermen and fishing communities through-- 7,i7 fishing capacity reduction1 including vessel1 permit1 and gear buybacks2 and 7,,ii7 investment in permit banks or trusts and other entities1 including community fishing associations and projects designed to help sustain fishery dependent communities and small-scale fisheries2 7v7 development of methods or technologies to improve the quality and value of fish landed2 7vi7 research and development of conservation engineering technologies and methods in both commercial and recreational fisheries2 and 7vii7 habitat restoration and protection2 7,c7 be revised by the regional fishery investment committee and approved by the ,council at least once every #e years2 7,d7 be submitted to the ,secretary for review to ensure the plan is consistent with the requirements of the ,magnuson-,stevens ,fishery ,conservation and ,management ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ahja et seq471 and this section2 7,e7 be published in the ,federal ,register and made available for public comment2 and 7,f7 become effective not later than #fj days after the date of receipt unless the ,secretary makes a negative consistency finding4 7#c7 ,negative consistency finding ,if the ,secretary makes a negative consistency finding under paragraph 7#b77;,f71 each portion of the plan that is the subject of the negative consistency finding shall not be effective until it is made consistent by the regional fishery investment committee and the ,council4 7#d7 ,regional ,fishery ,investment ,grant ,program ,not later than #cj days after the date of enactment of the ,fisheries ,disaster ,relief and ,research ,investment ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish an annual competitive grant program to provide funds for projects1 activities1 and research that advance the regional priorities that are included in the regional fishery investment plans4 7,a7 ,eligible recipients ,state1 ,federal1 regional1 or private entities or persons shall be eligible for funding with preference given to public-private partnerships4 7,b7 ,awards ,the ,secretary may only award a grant for a project1 activity1 or research that-- 7i7 implements regional fishery investment plans2 and 7ii7 has been recommended for funding by the respective regional fishery investment committee and approved by the ,council4 4 7b7 ,national ,fisheries ,investment ,program ,section #b7;d7 of the ,act of ,august #aa1 #aici 7commonly known as the ,saltonstall-,kennedy ,act7 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #gac;c-#c7;d771 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking research and development addressed to such aspects of ,united ,states fisheries 7including1 but not limited to1 harvesting1 processing1 marketing1 and associated infrastructures7 if not adequately covered by projects assisted under subsection 7c71 as the ,secretary deems appropriate and inserting fisheries research and investment that supports rebuilding and maintaining healthy ,united ,states fish populations and promotes sustainable fisheries4 ,the program shall address fisheries needs and problems described under subsection 7e77#a77;,b742 and 7#b7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7,a7 by striking 1 after consultation with appropriate representatives of the fishing industry12 7,b7 by striking ,merchant ,marine and ,fisheries and inserting ,natural ,resources2 7,c7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking development goals and funding priorities under paragraph 7#a7 and inserting investment priorities2 7,d7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking all pending projects assisted under subsection 7c7 and all that follows and inserting the projects funded by the ,secretary under this subsection2 and2 and 7,e7 in subparagraph 7,c71 by striking each project assisted and all that follows and inserting how well the project met the fisheries needs described in subsection 7e77#a744 7c7 ,division of resources ,section #b7;e77#a7 of the ,act of ,august #aa1 #aici 7commonly known as the ,saltonstall-,kennedy ,act7 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #gac;c-#c7;e77#a771 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking moneys each place it appears and inserting monies2 7#b7 by striking purpose of promoting and inserting purposes of investing in2 7#c7 by inserting or diverted following shall be transferred2 and 7#d7 by striking subparagraph 7,a7 and all the follows through the end of the paragraph and inserting the following3 7,a7 ,the ,secretary shall allocate #gj percent of such monies available at the beginning of each fiscal year to the #h ,council regions and the ,secretary in accordance with the following formula pursuant to subsection 7c73 7i7 ,one-half allocated equally among the ,council regions4 7ii7 ,one-half allocated proportionally among the ,council regions based on the combined economic impact of commercial landings and recreational fishing in each region4 7,b7 #bj percent of such monies shall be available to the ,secretary under subsection 7d7 for projects addressing fisheries needs and problems1 as identified by the ,secretary1 as follows3 7i7 ,up to one-fifth shall be allocated to1 and apportioned as the ,secretary deems appropriate among1 the ,atlantic ,states ,marine ,fisheries ,commission1 the ,gulf ,states ,marine ,fisheries ,commission1 and the ,pacific ,states ,marine ,fisheries ,commission4 7ii7 ,up to one-fifth shall be allocated to seafood promotion and sustainable certification efforts4 7iii7 ,up to one-fifth shall be allocated to improve fisheries' management through research1 monitoring or evaluation1 and modification of regulations and procedures4 7iv7 ,up to one-fifth shall be allocated to fisheries' disasters1 and shoreside infrastructure and access needs4 7v7 ,up to one-fifth shall be allocated to other special needs1 including management of highly migratory species and international fisheries4 7,c7 ,any of such monies remaining after the annual fiscal year allocations made pursuant to subparagraph 7,b7 shall remain available to the ,secretary without fiscal year limitation for future such allocations4 7#b7 ,limitation ,not more than #aj percent of the monies referred to in paragraph 7#a7 each fiscal year may be used to offset receipts for the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration's ,operations1 ,research1 and ,facilities account4 7#c7 ,annual notification ,the ,secretary shall notify annually each ,council of funds available for grants in its region4 7#d7 ,administrative costs ,prior to the allocation of monies under paragraph 7#a7 each fiscal year1 the ,secretary-- 7,a7 may reserve up to #c percent of such monies for the administration of the grant program2 and 7,b7 shall distribute #c percent of such monies equally among each of the #h ,councils for the development and implementation of fishery investment plans and grant review4 7#e7 ,maintenance of effort ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 the ,secretary may not reduce or eliminate funding for any research1 survey1 monitoring1 or assessment activities necessary to meet the conservation and management requirements of the ,magnuson-,stevens ,fishery ,conservation and ,management ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ahja et seq47 as a result of funding provided under this section4 4 7d7 ,fishery disaster assistance funding ,notwithstanding any provision of section #b of the ,act of ,august #aa1 #aici 7commonly known as the ,saltonstall-,kennedy ,act7 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #gac;c-#c7 and the amendments made by this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,commerce shall cause the amount transferred to the ,secretary for fiscal year #bjad under subsection 7b77#a7 of such section to be distributed among eligible recipients of assistance for commercial fishery failures and fishery disasters declared by the ,secretary of ,commerce in calendar year #bjab under sections #cjh7;b7 and #cjh7;d7 of the ,interjurisdicitional ,fisheries ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #dajg7 and sections #cab7;a7 and #cae of the ,magnuson-,stevens ,fishery ,conservation and ,management ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ahfa;a7a7 and #ahfd74 #d4 ,focusing assets for improved fisheries outcomes ,section #b7;b7 of the ,act of ,august #aa1 #aici 7commonly known as the ,saltonstall-,kennedy ,act7 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #gac;c-#c7;b771 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking 7#a72 7#b7 by striking and ending on ,june #cj1 #aieg12 7#c7 by striking moneys the first place it appears and inserting monies2 and 7#d7 by striking shall be maintained in a separate fund only for and all that follows and inserting and shall only be used for the purposes described under subsection 7c744 #e4 ,regulation and procedure streamlining 7a7 ,in general ,for the #b fiscal years following the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,commerce shall use funds available under section #b7;e77#b7 of the ,act of ,august #aa1 #aici 7commonly known as the ,saltonstall-,kennedy ,act7 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #gac;c-#c71 to conduct a review of the regulations and procedures used to implement title ,,iii of the ,magnuson-,stevens ,fishery ,conservation and ,management ,act 7#ij ,stat4 #cdf74 7b7 ,review requirements ,the review under subsection 7a7 shall-- 7#a7 identify redundant and inefficient regulations and procedures2 7#b7 make recommendations for streamlining such regulations and procedures1 including recommendations to eliminate unnecessary paperwork1 reduce bureaucratic restrictions1 and speed the inclusion of new information into management decisions2 and 7#c7 ensure that any recommended modifications to regulations or procedures are consistent with the ,magnuson-,stevens ,fishery ,conservation and ,management ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ahja et seq471 and any other applicable law4 #f4 ,promulgation of regulations ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall promulgate regulations to implement the requirements of this ,act4