H.R. 4800 — Introduced in House

I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4800 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 29, 2025Mr. Higgins of Louisiana (for himself and Mr. Fields) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to make certain freshwater fisheries eligible for fishery resource disaster relief. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fisheries Modernization Act of 2025. 2. Certain freshwater fisheries eligible for fishery resource disaster relief (a) In general Section 312(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1861a(a)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting infrastructure-related cause, after discrete anthropogenic cause,; (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (G) as subparagraphs (F) through (H), respectively; and (C) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following: (E) Infrastructure-related cause The term infrastructure-related cause means an event— (i) caused by the operation or failure of Federal or State infrastructure, including— (I) flood control systems; (II) spillways; (III) levees; and (IV) diversions; and (ii) that results in measurable disruption to commercial or subsistence fishery activity, aquatic habitat, or water quality. ; (2) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting , including with respect to the red swamp crawfish (Procambarus clarkii) and white river crawfish (Procambarus zonangulus) fisheries after in accordance with this subsection; (3) in paragraph (3)(B)(v)— (A) in subclause (III), by striking and at the end; (B) in subclause (IV), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (V) with respect to the red swamp crawfish (Procambarus clarkii) and white river crawfish (Procambarus zonangulus) fisheries, information related to hydrological conditions, water quality degradation, extreme flooding or drought, or other environmental disruptions that directly impact viability. ; and (4) in paragraph (5)— (A) in subparagraph (A)— (i) by redesignating clauses (iii) and (iv) as clauses (iv) and (v), respectively; (ii) by inserting after clause (ii) the following: (iii) an infrastructure-related cause; ; and (iii) in clause (iv), as so redesignated, by striking a combination of a natural cause and an anthropogenic cause and inserting any combination of clauses (i) through (iii); and (B) in subparagraph (D), by striking and safety, and inserting and safety, and including a disaster affecting the red swamp crawfish (Procambarus clarkii) and white river crawfish (Procambarus zonangulus) fisheries,. (b) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to limit, reduce, or otherwise affect the eligibility of any marine or anadromous fishery for fishery resource disaster assistance under section 312 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1861a).