American Fisheries Advisory Committee Act

To establish the American Fisheries Advisory Committee to assist in the awarding of fisheries research and development grants, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the American Fisheries Advisory Committee Act 2. American Fisheries Advisory Committee (a) Establishment Section 2 of the Act of August 11, 1939 ( 15 U.S.C. 713c–3 (f) American Fisheries Advisory Committee (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Committee The term Committee (B) Marketing and promotion The term marketing and promotion (C) Processor The term processor (D) Seafood The term seafood (E) Seafood industry The term seafood industry (2) Establishment Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the American Fisheries Advisory Committee Act (A) Region 1 shall consist of Alaska, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories of Guam and American Samoa. (B) Region 2 shall consist of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. (C) Region 3 shall consist of Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the territory of the Virgin Islands. (D) Region 4 shall consist of California, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. (E) Region 5 shall consist of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. (3) Membership The Committee shall be composed of the following members: (A) Regional representation Each of the regions listed in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of paragraph (2) shall be represented on the Committee by two members— (i) who are appointed by the Secretary; (ii) who reside in a State or territory in the region that the member will represent; (iii) of which— (I) one shall have experience as a seafood harvester; and (II) one shall have experience as a processor; and (iv) that are selected so that the members of the Committee have experience or expertise with as many seafood species as practicable. (B) At-large members The Secretary shall appoint to the Committee at-large members to ensure that the Committee fairly reflects the expertise and interest of the seafood industry located in each region, as follows: (i) One individual with experience in mass market food distribution. (ii) One individual with experience in mass market food retail or food service. (iii) One individual with experience in the marketing of seafood. (iv) One individual with experience in growing seafood. (v) One individual who is an employee of the National Marine Fisheries Service with expertise in fisheries research. (4) Member terms The term for a member of the Committee shall be three years, except that the Secretary shall designate staggered terms for the members initially appointed to the Committee. (5) Responsibilities The Committee shall be responsible for— (A) identifying needs of the seafood industry that may be addressed by a project funded with a grant under subsection (c); (B) developing the request for proposals for such grants; (C) reviewing applications for such grants; and (D) selecting applications for approval under subsection (c)(2)(B). (6) Chair The Committee shall elect a chair by a majority of those voting, if a quorum is present. (7) Quorum A simple majority of members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings. (8) Meetings (A) Frequency The Committee shall meet not more than two times each year. (B) Location The meetings of the Committee shall rotate between the geographic regions described under paragraph (2). (C) Federal Advisory Committee Act The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Committee. (9) Staff The Committee may employ staff as necessary without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code. (10) Per diem and expenses and funding (A) In general A member of the Committee shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed in accordance with section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for reasonable travel costs and expenses incurred in performing duties as a member of the Committee. (B) Funding The reimbursements made under subparagraph (A) shall be paid with the funds made available for grants under subsection (c). (11) Conflict of interest The conflict of interest and recusal provisions set out in section 302(j) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1852(j) 16 U.S.C. 1852(j)(2)(C) . (b) Role in approval of grants Section 2(c)(3) of the Act of August 11, 1939 ( 15 U.S.C. 713c–3(c)(3) (3) No application for a grant under this subsection may be approved unless— (A) the Secretary is satisfied that the applicant has the requisite technical and financial capability to carry out the project; and (B) the application is selected for funding by the American Fisheries Advisory Committee under subsection (f). .

Summary: American Fisheries Advisory Committee Act This bill amends the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act to direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)to establish the American Fisheries Advisory Committee. NOAA must establish five regions within the committee.The committee must consist of members chosen regionally and across all sectors of the fishing industry.Additionally, the committee must: (1)identify the needs of the fishing industry, (2)develop grant proposals to fund projects that address the industry needs, (3)review grant applications, and (4)provide NOAA with grant applicants for approval. NOAA must not approve a grant application unless the application is selected for funding by the committee.