I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6651 
To establish an Alaska Salmon Research Task Force. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 8, 2022 
Mr. YOUNG introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To establish an Alaska Salmon Research Task Force. 
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 ‘‘Alaska Salmon Re-
search Task Force Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to ensure that Pacific salmon trends in 
Alaska regarding productivity and abundance are 
characterized and that research needs are identified; 
(2) to prioritize scientific research needs for Pa-
cific salmon in Alaska; 
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(3) to address the increased variability or de-
cline in Pacific salmon returns in Alaska by creating 
a coordinated salmon research strategy; and 
(4) to support collaboration and coordination 
for Pacific salmon conservation efforts in Alaska. 
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) salmon are an essential part of Alaska’s 
fisheries, including subsistence, commercial, and rec-
reational uses, and there is an urgent need to better 
understand the freshwater and marine biology and 
ecology of salmon, a migratory species that crosses 
many borders, and for a coordinated salmon re-
search strategy to address salmon returns that are 
in decline or experiencing increased variability; 
(2) salmon are an essential element for the 
well-being and health of Alaskans; and 
(3) there is a unique relationship for people of 
Indigenous heritage who rely on salmon for subsist-
ence and traditional and cultural practices. 
SEC. 4. ALASKA SALMON RESEARCH TASK FORCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, 
in consultation with the Governor of Alaska, shall convene 
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an Alaska Salmon Research Task Force (referred to in 
this section as the ‘‘Research Task Force’’) to— 
(1) review existing Pacific salmon research; 
(2) identify applied research needed to better 
understand the increased variability and declining 
salmon returns in some regions of Alaska; and 
(3) support sustainable management of salmon 
in Alaska. 
(b) COMPOSITION AND APPOINTMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Research Task Force 
shall be composed of not fewer than 13 and not 
more than 19 members, who shall be appointed 
under paragraphs (2) and (3). 
(2) APPOINTMENT BY SECRETARY.—The Sec-
retary of Commerce shall appoint members to the 
Research Task Force as follows: 
(A) One representative from each of the 
following: 
(i) The National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration who is knowledge-
able about salmon and salmon research ef-
forts from the Alaska Region. 
(ii) The North Pacific Fishery Man-
agement Council. 
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(iii) The United States section of the 
Pacific Salmon Commission. 
(B) Not less than 2 and not more than 5 
representatives from each of the following cat-
egories, at least 1 of whom shall represent Alas-
ka Natives who possess personal knowledge of, 
and direct experience with, subsistence uses in 
rural Alaska, to be appointed with due regard 
to differences in regional perspectives and expe-
rience: 
(i) Residents of Alaska who possess 
personal knowledge of, and direct experi-
ence with, subsistence uses in rural Alaska. 
(ii) Alaska fishing industry represent-
atives throughout the salmon supply chain, 
including from— 
(I) directed commercial fishing; 
(II) recreational fishing; 
(III) charter fishing; 
(IV) seafood processors; 
(V) salmon prohibited species 
catch (bycatch) users; or 
(VI) hatcheries. 
(C) 5 representatives who are academic ex-
perts in salmon biology, salmon management, 
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salmon ecology (marine and freshwater), or 
comprehensive marine research planning in the 
North Pacific. 
(3) APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNOR OF ALAS-
KA.—The Governor of Alaska shall appoint to the 
Research Task Force one representative from the 
State of Alaska who is knowledgeable about the 
State of Alaska’s salmon management and research 
efforts. 
(c) DUTIES.— 
(1) 
REVIEW.—The 
Research 
Task 
Force 
shall— 
(A) conduct a review of Pacific salmon 
science relevant to understanding and managing 
salmon returns in Alaska, including an exam-
ination of— 
(i) traditional ecological knowledge of 
salmon populations and their ecosystems; 
(ii) marine carrying capacity and den-
sity dependent constraints, including an 
examination of interactions with other 
salmon species, and with forage base in 
marine ecosystems; 
(iii) life-cycle and stage-specific mor-
tality; 
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(iv) genetic sampling and categoriza-
tion of population structure within salmon 
species in Alaska; 
(v) methods for predicting run-timing 
and stock sizes; 
(vi) oceanographic models that provide 
insight into stock distribution, growth, and 
survival; 
(vii) freshwater, estuarine, and marine 
processes that affect survival of smolts; 
(viii) climate effects on freshwater and 
marine habitats; 
(ix) predator/prey interactions be-
tween salmon and marine mammals or 
other predators; and 
(x) salmon productivity trends in 
other regions, both domestic and inter-
national, that put Alaska salmon popu-
lations in a broader geographic context; 
and 
(B) identify scientific research gaps in un-
derstanding the Pacific salmon life-cycle in 
Alaska. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date the Research Task Force is convened, the Re-
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search Task Force shall submit to the Secretary of 
Commerce, the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works of the Senate, the 
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and 
Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropria-
tions of the Senate, the Committee on Natural Re-
sources of the House of Representatives, the Sub-
committee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Re-
lated Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives, and the Alaska 
State Legislature, and make publicly available, a re-
port— 
(A) describing the review conducted under 
paragraph (1); and 
(B) that includes— 
(i) recommendations on filling knowl-
edge gaps that warrant further scientific 
inquiry; and 
(ii) findings from the reports of work 
groups 
submitted 
under 
subsection 
(d)(2)(C). 
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.— 
(1) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.— 
The Research Task Force shall select a Chair and 
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Vice Chair by vote from among the members of the 
Research Task Force. 
(2) WORK GROUPS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Research Task 
Force— 
(i) not later than 30 days after the 
date of the establishment of the Research 
Task Force, shall establish a work group 
focused specifically on salmon returns in 
the AYK (Arctic-Yukon-Kuskoskim) re-
gions of Western Alaska; and 
(ii) may establish additional regionally 
or stock focused work groups within the 
Research Task Force, as members deter-
mine appropriate. 
(B) COMPOSITION.—Each work group es-
tablished under this subsection shall— 
(i) consist of not less than 5 individ-
uals who— 
(I) are knowledgeable about the 
stock or region under consideration; 
and 
(II) need not be members of the 
Research Task Force; and 
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(ii) be balanced in terms of stake-
holder representation, including commer-
cial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries, 
as well as experts in statistical, biological, 
economic, social, or other scientific infor-
mation as relevant to the work group’s 
focus. 
(C) REPORTS.—Not later than 9 months 
after the date the Research Task Force is con-
vened, each work group established under this 
subsection shall submit a report with the work 
group’s findings to the Research Task Force. 
(3) COMPENSATION.—Each member of the Re-
search Task Force shall serve without compensation. 
(4) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—The Secretary 
of Commerce shall provide such administrative sup-
port as is necessary for the Research Task Force 
and its work groups to carry out their duties, includ-
ing support for virtual or in-person participation and 
travel expenses. 
(e) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—The 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not 
apply to the Research Task Force. 
Æ 
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