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Union Calendar No. 527 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4679 

[Report No. 116–642] 

To require the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to Congress a report examining efforts by the Regional Fishery Management 

Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the 

National Marine Fisheries Service to prepare and adapt United States 

fishery management for the impacts of climate change, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 15, 2019 

Mr. CUNNINGHAM (for himself, Mr. MAST, Mr. ROONEY of Florida, and Mr. 

HUFFMAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 

DECEMBER 14, 2020 

Additional sponsors: Mr. GAETZ, Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire, Mr. 

MALINOWSKI, Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ, Mr. CASE, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. TED

LIEU of California, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. KIM, Mr. COOPER, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. KEATING, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Mr. 

FITZPATRICK, Ms. BROWNLEY of California, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, 

Ms. MUCARSEL-POWELL, Mr. AGUILAR, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. GOLDEN, 

Ms. WILD, Mr. RUTHERFORD, and Mrs. NAPOLITANO

DECEMBER 14, 2020 

Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be 

printed 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
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•HR 4679 RH

A BILL 

To require the Comptroller General of the United States 

to submit to Congress a report examining efforts by 

the Regional Fishery Management Councils, the Atlantic 

States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the National 

Marine Fisheries Service to prepare and adapt United 

States fishery management for the impacts of climate 

change, and for other purposes. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
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•HR 4679 RH

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 ‘‘Climate-Ready Fish5 eries Act of 2019’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) According to the Fourth National Climate 

9 Assessment, climate change, which results in ocean 

10 warming, acidification, and oxygen loss, is rapidly al11 tering the abundance, productivity, and distribution 

12 of fish stocks. 

13 (2) United States commercial and recreational 

14 fisheries generate approximately $210 billion in sales 

15 impacts each year and are a critical economic driver 

16 for thousands of coastal communities. 

17 (3) Changing water temperatures have already 

18 affected many commercially and recreationally tar19 geted fish stocks. 

20 (4) Changing conditions and effects on fish 

21 stocks are impacting subsistence fishing, which is 

22 critical to food security and culture for Alaska Na23 tive and American Indian tribes, and fishing commu24 nities throughout the Nation, according to the 

25 Fourth National Climate Assessment. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
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•HR 4679 RH

1 (5) The impacts of climate change on fish are 

2 resulting in a cascade of management and sustain3 ability challenges, which negatively affect marine 

4 ecosystems, fishermen, and fishing communities. 

5 (6) A better understanding of current efforts 

6 underway by the Regional Fishery Management 

7 Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Com8 mission, and the National Marine Fisheries Service 

9 to address the impact of climate change on fishery 

10 management is needed to ensure our fisheries and 

11 their marine ecosystems are well prepared for chang12 ing ocean conditions. 

13 SEC. 3. REPORT ON EFFORTS TO PREPARE AND ADAPT 

14 UNITED STATES FISHERY MANAGEMENT FOR 

15 THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 

17 date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 

18 of the United States shall submit a report to Congress 

19 examining efforts by the Regional Fishery Management 

20 Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commis21 sion, and the National Marine Fisheries Service to prepare 

22 and adapt to the impacts of climate change. 

23 (b) CONTENTS OF STUDY.—The report required 

24 under subsection (a) shall include— 


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•HR 4679 RH

1 (1) an examination of current or previous ef2 forts, and whether those efforts have resulted in 

3 changes to management, by the Regional Fishery 

4 Management Councils, the Atlantic States Marine 

5 Fisheries Commission, and the National Marine 

6 Fisheries Service to prepare and adapt Federal and 

7 jointly managed fisheries for the impacts of climate 

8 change; 

9 (2) an examination of any guidance issued to 

10 the Regional Fishery Management Councils by the 

11 National Marine Fisheries Service to prepare and 

12 adapt Federal fishery management for the impacts 

13 of climate change and whether and how that guid14 ance has been utilized; 

15 (3) identification of and recommendations for 

16 how best to address the most significant economic, 

17 social, ecological, or other knowledge gaps, as well as 

18 key funding gaps, that would increase the ability of 

19 the Regional Fishery Management Councils, the At20 lantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, or the 

21 National Marine Fisheries Service to prepare and 

22 adapt fishery management for the impacts of climate 

23 change; 

24 (4) recommendations for how the Regional 

25 Fishery Management Councils, the Atlantic States 


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•HR 4679 RH

1 Marine Fisheries Commission, and the National Ma2 rine Fisheries Service can better adapt fishery man3 agement and prepare associated fishing industries 

4 and dependent communities for the impacts of cli5 mate change; and 

6 (5) recommendations for how to enhance the 

7 capacity of the National Marine Fisheries Service to 

8 monitor climate-related changes to fisheries and ma9 rine ecosystems, to understand the mechanisms of 

10 change, to evaluate risks and priorities, to provide 

11 forecasts and projections of future conditions, to 

12 communicate scientific advice, and to better manage 

13 fisheries under changing conditions due to climate 

14 change. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS

pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 527 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4679 

[Report No. 116–642] 

A BILL 

To require the Comptroller General of the United 

change, and for other purposes. ery management for the impacts of climate Service to prepare and adapt United States fishCommission, and the National Marine Fisheries Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries efforts by the Regional Fishery Management States to submit to Congress a report examining 

DECEMBER 14, 2020 

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 

State of the Union and ordered to be printed 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS