S. 2327 would establish an Ocean Commission to make recommendations for changes in national oceans policy. The committee also passed S. 1911, a bill that would prohibit longline fishing for swordfish and other pelagic species along the Atlantic Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico at certain months of the year, as well as provide economic aid to fishermen affected by the ban. The Atlantic swordfish fishery is in a steep decline, due in part to longliners unintentionally catching large numbers of juvenile fish. The bill will provide funding to states to assist in their cleanup of publicly owned lakes. The bill passed by a vote of 418 to 7.
Rural counties use funds from the county payments program to fund public education and roadbuilding.
Currently, the program is funded by timber sales, thereby giving an incentive to counties to support logging in order to fund their schools and roads. Environmental groups support legislation to fund rural schools near national forests from the federal treasury without regard to timber receipts. S. 1608 will continue to fund schools from logging receipts, although shortfalls may be made up from general funds, and additionally will put 15 percent of the funds towards stewardship programs on national forest lands that are designed to generate more money for schools and roads. Counties are free to opt out of the 15 percent program, but if they do they will lose that portion of their county payments funding. Projects for the 15 percent fund are selected by a panel of local interests.