,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bhhc ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #ah 7legislative day1 ,september #af71 #bjbe,mr4 ,whitehouse 7for himself and ,mr4 ,scott of ,south ,carolina7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to establish an ,east ,coast ,bivalve ,research ,task ,force4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,quantifying ,uncertainty and ,action to ,help ,optimize ,growth of ,shellfish ,act of #bjbe or the ,,quahogs ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act are-- 7#a7 to ensure that bivalve trends in ,east ,coast ,states regarding productivity and abundance are characterized and that research needs are identified2 7#b7 to prioritize scientific research needs for commercially harvested and aquacultured ,east ,coast bivalves2 7#c7 to address the increased variability or decline in harvests of key bivalve species in ,east ,coast ,states1 including quahogs 7hard clams71 by creating a coordinated bivalve research strategy2 and 7#d7 to support collaboration and coordination for bivalve conservation efforts in ,east ,coast ,states4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,bivalve ,the term bivalve means aquatic mollusks that have an external #b-part hinged shell containing a soft-bodied invertebrate1 including clams1 oysters1 mussels1 and scallops4 7#b7 ,indian ,tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#c7 ,quahog 7hard clam7 ,the term quahog 7hard clam7 means the ,northern quahog or hard clam1 ,mercenaria mercenaria1 as well as the ,southern quahog or ,southern hard clam1 ,mercenaria campechiensis4 #d4 ,east ,coast bivalve research task force 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,commerce1 in consultation with the ,chairs of the ,new ,england1 ,mid-,atlantic1 and ,south ,atlantic ,fishery ,management ,councils and the ,atlantic ,states ,marine ,fisheries ,commission1 shall convene an ,east ,coast ,bivalve ,research ,task ,force 7referred to in this section as the ,research ,task ,force7 to-- 7#a7 review existing bivalve research in ,east ,coast ,states2 7#b7 identify applied research needed to better understand the increased variability and declining harvests of quahogs 7hard clams7 and other bivalves in some parts of the ,east ,coast2 7#c7 support sustainable bivalve fisheries in ,east ,coast ,states2 7#d7 support sustainable bivalve aquaculture operations2 and 7#e7 evaluate economic impacts of bivalve wild populations1 fisheries1 and aquaculture4 7b7 ,composition and appointment 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,research ,task ,force shall be composed of not fewer than #af and not more than #ba members1 who shall be appointed under paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,appointment by ,secretary ,the ,secretary of ,commerce shall appoint members to the ,research ,task ,force as follows3 7,a7 ,one representative from each of the following3 7i7 ,the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration who is knowledgeable about bivalve research efforts in ,east ,coast ,states4 7ii7 ,the ,environmental ,protection ,agency who is knowledgeable about ,united ,states water quality assessments and standards for bivalve and human health4 7iii7 ,the ,united ,states ,department of ,agriculture who is experienced in aquaculture research or management4 7iv7 ,the ,new ,england ,fishery ,management ,council4 7v7 ,the ,mid-,atlantic ,fishery ,management ,council4 7vi7 ,the ,south ,atlantic ,fishery ,management ,council4 7vii7 ,the ,atlantic ,states ,marine ,fisheries ,commission4 7,b7 ,one representative from a ,state fish and wildlife management agency from each of-- 7i7 the region defined by the ,new ,england ,fishery ,management ,council2 7ii7 the region defined by the ,mid-,atlantic ,fishery ,management ,council2 and 7iii7 the region defined by the ,south ,atlantic ,fishery ,management ,council4 7,c7 ,not less than #a and not more than #c representatives of ,indian ,tribes with current or historic1 or both1 knowledge of and reliance on ,east ,coast bivalves to be appointed with due regard to differences in regional perspectives and experience4 7,d7 ,not less than #c and not more than #f representatives from the bivalve fishing industry throughout the supply chain to be appointed with due regard to differences in regional perspectives and experience1 including from-- 7i7 directed commercial harvesting2 7ii7 recreational harvesting2 7iii7 fisheries of an ,indian ,tribe2 7iv7 bivalve processors or distributors2 or 7v7 bivalve aquaculture1 including hatcheries4 7,e7 #e representatives who are academic experts in bivalve biology and ecology1 bivalve habitat restoration and conservation1 bivalve aquaculture1 comprehensive marine research planning in ,east ,coast ,states1 or the economics or social dynamics of bivalve fisheries and aquaculture1 including at least #a representative with expertise in quahogs 7hard clams74 7#c7 ,chair ,the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration representative described in paragraph 7#b77;,a77i7 shall be the ,chair of the ,research ,task ,force4 7c7 ,duties 7#a7 ,review ,the ,research ,task ,force shall-- 7,a7 conduct a review of bivalve science relevant to understanding current and potential future harvests of quahogs 7hard clams7 and other culturally or economically important bivalve species in ,east ,coast ,states1 as well as solutions to identified problems1 including an examination of-- 7i7 traditional ecological knowledge of bivalve populations and their ecosystems1 including potential for incorporation into management plans2 7ii7 habitat requirements for bivalve populations1 including water quality and potential for water quality improvement or alteration through habitat restoration or other means1 as well as potential future habitat change2 7iii7 impacts of erosion and sedimentation on bivalve populations and farms1 including potential mitigation techniques2 7iv7 current and future impacts of climate change on bivalves1 including ocean warming1 ocean acidification1 and sea level rise2 7v7 conditions and techniques for successful restoration1 including feasibility of multitrophic restoration1 such as bivalves and seagrass meadows2 7vi7 mitigation strategies for climate change impacts1 including assisted migration2 7vii7 culture and breeding techniques1 including genomic modifications to meet different commercial1 recreational1 and restoration needs2 7viii7 life cycle1 including larval dispersal1 recruitment dynamics1 life-stage specific mortality1 and growth rate2 7ix7 current and historic ranges1 as well as potential future range shifts due to climate change2 7x7 prevalence of diseases and disease mitigating strategies2 7xi7 management strategies for sustainable bivalve aquaculture and potential impacts2 and 7xii7 economic value and potential of bivalve aquaculture1 including financial and regulatory barriers to entry for small-scale operations2 7,b7 identify-- 7i7 scientific research gaps in understanding the ecology of culturally and economically important bivalve species in ,east ,coast ,states2 and 7ii7 the needs for developing solutions to declining harvests and other identified problems1 including with respect to quahogs 7hard clams72 7,c7 consider both current and future impacts on the health and populations of bivalves in ,east ,coast ,states2 and 7,d7 identify solutions to current and predicted impacts on the health and populations of bivalves in ,east ,coast ,states4 7#b7 ,reports 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #b years after the date the ,research ,task ,force is established1 the ,chair of the ,research ,task ,force shall submit to the ,secretary of ,commerce1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate1 the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works of the ,senate1 the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate1 the ,subcommittee on ,commerce1 ,justice1 ,science1 and ,related ,agencies of the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate1 the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives1 the ,committee on ,agriculture of the ,house of ,representatives1 the ,subcommittee on ,commerce1 ,justice1 ,science1 and ,related ,agencies of the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives and make publicly available1 a report-- 7i7 describing the review conducted under paragraph 7#a72 and 7ii7 that includes-- 7,i7 recommendations on filling knowledge gaps that warrant further scientific inquiry2 and 7,,ii7 findings from the reports of work groups submitted under subsection 7d77#b77;,c74 7,b7 ,interim progress report ,not later than #a year after the date the ,research ,task ,force is established1 the ,chair of the ,research ,task ,force shall submit to the individuals and entities described in subparagraph 7,a7 and make publicly available an interim progress report describing the review conducted under paragraph 7#a74 7d7 ,administrative matters 7#a7 ,vice ,chairperson ,the ,research ,task ,force shall select a ,vice ,chair by vote from among the members of the ,research ,task ,force4 7#b7 ,work groups 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,research ,task ,force-- 7i7 not later than #cj days after the date of the establishment of the ,research ,task ,force1 shall establish a work group focused specifically on the research needs associated with quahog 7hard clams7 populations in ,rhode ,island and across the ,east ,coast2 7ii7 not later than #cj days after the date of the establishment of the ,research ,task ,force1 shall establish a work group focused on the current and potential future impacts of climate change on bivalve populations in ,east ,coast ,states2 and 7iii7 may establish additional regionally or stock focused work groups within the ,research ,task ,force1 as members determine appropriate4 7,b7 ,composition ,each work group established under this subsection shall-- 7i7 consist of not less than #e individuals who-- 7,i7 are knowledgeable about the species1 issue1 or region under consideration2 and 7,,ii7 shall include at least #a member of the ,research ,task ,force1 though the others need not be2 and 7ii7 be balanced in terms of stakeholder representation1 including commercial and aquaculture fisheries1 as well as experts in statistical1 biological1 economic1 social1 or other scientific information as relevant to the work group's focus4 7,c7 ,reports ,not later than #b years after the date the ,research ,task ,force is established1 each work group established under this subsection shall submit a report with the work group's findings to the ,research ,task ,force4 7#c7 ,compensation ,each member of the ,research ,task ,force and each member of a work group shall serve without compensation4 7#d7 ,expenses ,a member of the ,research ,task ,force and a member of a work group shall be allowed travel expenses1 including per diem in lieu of subsistence1 at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter ,i of chapter #eg of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in the performance of the duties of the ,research ,task ,force4 7#e7 ,administrative support ,the ,secretary of ,commerce shall provide such administrative support as is necessary for the ,research ,task ,force and its work groups to carry out their duties1 which may include support for virtual or in-person participation4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary4