I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2040 

To designate the Atlantic striped bass as the National Fish of the United 

States. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 28, 2015 

Mr. MACARTHUR introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

A BILL 

To designate the Atlantic striped bass as the National Fish 

of the United States. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Striped Bass American 

5 Heritage Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS AS NA7 TIONAL FISH OF THE UNITED STATES. 

8 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) The striped bass, Morone saxatilis, is an 

2 anadromous species, frequenting and requiring both 

3 fresh water and salt water throughout its life. 

4 (2) The Atlantic striped bass has played an im5 portant role in the development and growth of the 

6 United States. 

7 (3) The Atlantic striped bass is identified as 

8 playing a pivotal role in providing the Pilgrims of 

9 the Plymouth Colony sustenance in 1620. 

10 (4) The Nation’s first fishing conservation law 

11 was enacted in 1639, pertaining to the use of Atlan12 tic striped bass. 

13 (5) The Nation’s first free public school was 

14 funded with income derived from the income accrued 

15 from Atlantic striped bass in 1670. 

16 (6) Atlantic striped bass from the Navesink 

17 River in New Jersey were transported west to San 

18 Francisco Bay via railway car in 1879 during the 

19 country’s great expansion west. 

20 (7) Atlantic striped bass spawn in freshwater, 

21 the success of which is influenced by environmental 

22 conditions, habitat, and water conditions. 

23 (8) Widespread pollution of coastal estuaries 

24 and rivers and overfishing in the 1960s and 1970s 

25 lead to dramatic decline of the Atlantic striped bass 


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1 population and the passage of the Atlantic Striped 

2 Bass Conservation Act in 1984 (16 U.S.C 5151 et 

3 seq.). 

4 (9) Through Executive Order 13449, issued on 

5 October 24, 2007, Atlantic striped bass in Federal 

6 waters were afforded protection from sale. 

7 (10) The Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation 

8 Act is a regional management success due in part to 

9 the moratorium authority vested in both the Sec10 retary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Inte11 rior who can declare jointly a moratorium on fishing 

12 for Atlantic striped bass within the coastal waters of 

13 any coastal State if the Secretaries determine that 

14 coastal State to be out of compliance with any regu15 latory measures necessary to fully implement and 

16 enforce the Atlantic striped bass management plan 

17 within its coastal waters. 

18 (11) The Atlantic striped bass population re19 sponded positively to management measures and im20 provements to water quality, and was therefore de21 clared rebuilt in 1995. 

22 (12) The Atlantic striped bass supports signifi23 cant and sustainable commercial and recreational 

24 fisheries that provide income, employment, and food. 


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1 (13) The Atlantic striped bass, through its re2 silience and persistence, represents the American 

3 ideals and spirit that helped shaped the Nation. 

4 (b) DECLARATION.—The Atlantic striped bass, 

5 Morone saxatilis, is designated as the National Fish of the 

6 United States. 

Æ 


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