I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3644 
To authorize grants for data collection for use in stock assessments of red 
snapper and other reef fish species in the South Atlantic, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 29, 2015 
Mr. JOLLY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To authorize grants for data collection for use in stock 
assessments of red snapper and other reef fish species 
in the South Atlantic, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘South Atlantic Red 
Snapper Data Improvement Act’’. 
SEC. 2. SOUTH ATLANTIC RED SNAPPER AND OTHER REEF 
FISH SPECIES DATA COLLECTION GRANTS. 
(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of Com-
merce, acting through the National Marine Fisheries Serv-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:51 Oct 01, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3644.IH
H3644
smartinez on DSK9F6TC42PROD with BILLS
ice Southeast Regional Office, shall award competitive 
grants for fishery-dependent and fishery-independent data 
collection for use in stock assessments for red snapper and 
other reef fish species in the South Atlantic region. 
(b) INNOVATIVE APPROACHES.—In awarding grants 
under this section, the Secretary shall seek to improve red 
snapper and other reef fish species stock assessments 
through innovative approaches to data collection that in-
corporates data from cooperative peer-reviewed research 
involving academia, fishermen, and other fisheries sources. 
(c) GRANT PERIOD.—Grants under this section may 
be for one or more fiscal years. 
SEC. 3. COMMUNICATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce shall 
seek to improve communications by the National Marine 
Fisheries Service with stakeholders regarding the South 
Atlantic red snapper and other reef fish species stock as-
sessment processes and outcomes of such processes. 
(b) REPORT.—The Secretary shall— 
(1) by not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, report to Congress on 
actions taken under this section and the results of 
such actions; and 
(2) update such report every 180 days there-
after. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:51 Oct 01, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3644.IH
H3644
smartinez on DSK9F6TC42PROD with BILLS
SEC. 4. PROCESS FOR USING SOUTH ATLANTIC RED SNAP-
PER AND OTHER REEF FISH SPECIES COOP-
ERATIVE RESEARCH DATA. 
The Secretary of Commerce shall— 
(1) by not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, develop and report to 
the Congress on a process for using data collected 
through cooperative research activities for South At-
lantic red snapper and other reef fish species stock 
assessments; and 
(2) update such report every 180 days there-
after. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of Commerce $10,000,000 for grants, personnel, 
operations, and data collection under this Act to improve 
South Atlantic red snapper and other reef fish species 
stock assessments. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:51 Oct 01, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H3644.IH
H3644
smartinez on DSK9F6TC42PROD with BILLS