S. 3879 — Reported in Senate

II Calendar No. 724 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3879 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 6, 2024Mr. Cruz (for himself, Mr. Tuberville, and Mrs. Britt) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation December 18 (legislative day, December 16), 2024Reported by Ms. Cantwell, with an amendmentStrike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic A BILL To require the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the Administrator of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of red snapper imported into the United States, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Illegal Red Snapper Enforcement Act. 2. Methodology for identifying the country of origin of red snapper imported into the United States (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2) Appropriate committees of Congress The term appropriate committees of Congress means— (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives. (3) Under Secretary The term Under Secretary means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. (b) Standard methodology for identification The Under Secretary and the Administrator, in consultation with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Commandant of the Coast Guard, shall jointly develop a standard methodology based on chemical analysis for identifying the country of origin of red snapper imported into the United States that— (1) is consistent with the needs of Federal and State law enforcement agencies in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; (2) minimizes processing time; and (3) involves the use of a field kit that can be easily carried by one individual. (c) Report Not later 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes the following: (1) A summary of the methodology developed under subsection (b). (2) A plan for operationalizing the methodology. (3) Recommendations for further research on identification methods, including other potential applications of the methodology. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Illegal Red Snapper Enforcement Act. 2. Methodology for identifying the country of origin of red snapper imported into the United States (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2) Appropriate committees of Congress The term appropriate committees of Congress means— (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives. (3) Under Secretary The term Under Secretary means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. (b) Standard methodology for identification The Under Secretary and the Administrator, in consultation with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Commandant of the Coast Guard, shall jointly develop a standard methodology based on chemical analysis for identifying the country of origin of red snapper imported into the United States that— (1) is consistent with the needs of Federal and State law enforcement agencies in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; (2) minimizes processing time; and (3) involves the use of a field kit that can be easily carried by one individual. (c) Report Not later 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes the following: (1) A summary of the methodology developed under subsection (b). (2) A plan for operationalizing the methodology developed under subsection (b). (3) Recommendations for further research on identification methods, including other potential applications of the methodology. 3. Technical assistance for IUU fishing enforcement (a) In general The Secretary of Defense is authorized to, in coordination with the United States Coast Guard, expend funds appropriated for the Department of Defense for operation and maintenance to provide maritime technical assistance to maritime forces from other nations in efforts to combat illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing (commonly known as IUU fishing) and other transnational organized crime. Such technical assistance may include providing observers, shipriders, and specialized personnel to deploy with such maritime forces, in addition to remote sensing, analysis of data, and operational intelligence, as appropriate and consistent with United States law and policy. (b) Application of authority The authority provided under subsection (a) shall apply to the use of the United States Coast Guard members deployed to and operating aboard Department of Defense, partner nation, or international partner platforms, as well as partner nation personnel operating aboard United States military and Coast Guard assets or international partner vessels, as appropriate. December 18 (legislative day, December 16), 2024Reported with an amendment