TITLE 
III—STRENGTHENING 
PUBLIC 
PROCESS 
AND 
TRANSPARENCY 
SEC. 301. TRIBAL REPRESENTATION ON PACIFIC FISHERY 
MANAGEMENT COUNCIL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 302(b)(5) (16 U.S.C. 
1852(b)(5)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘not less 
than 3’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(E) An individual appointed under subpara-
graph (A) shall serve on the Pacific Council until 
such time as a new appointment to the tribal seat 
is made under subparagraph (A).’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 302(b)(3) 
(16 U.S.C. 1852(b)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘para-
graphs (2) and (5)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (2)’’. 
SEC. 302. TRIBAL REPRESENTATION ON NORTH PACIFIC 
FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 302 (16 U.S.C. 1852) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(G)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘seward’’ and inserting 
‘‘seaward’’; 
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(B) by striking ‘‘11’’ and inserting ‘‘13’’; 
and 
(C) by inserting before the period at the 
end ‘‘and 2 appointed by the Secretary in ac-
cordance with subsection (b)(6)’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking 
‘‘paragraphs (2) and (5)’’ and inserting ‘‘para-
graphs (2), (5), and (6)’’; 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (6) as 
paragraph (7); 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (5) the 
following: 
‘‘(6)(A) The Secretary, in accordance with sub-
paragraph (C), shall appoint to the North Pacific 
Council 2 individuals to serve as representatives of 
covered Indian tribes from a list submitted by the 
tribal governments. 
‘‘(B) The Secretary, in consultation with the 
Secretary of the Interior, tribal governments, and 
the Alaska Federation of Natives, shall establish by 
regulation the procedure for submitting a list under 
subparagraph (A). 
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‘‘(C) An individual is qualified for appointment 
to the North Pacific Council under subparagraph 
(A) if such individual— 
‘‘(i) possesses knowledge of— 
‘‘(I) the anadromous fish of the North 
Pacific Council region; 
‘‘(II) the marine resources managed 
by such Council; 
‘‘(III) the effects of the actions of 
such Council on such resources; 
‘‘(IV) the subsistence uses, customs, 
and traditions relating to such resources; 
and 
‘‘(V) commercial and sport uses of the 
fish described in subclause (I) and such re-
sources; or 
‘‘(ii) demonstrates leadership through in-
volvement in local, regional, or tribal fish and 
wildlife management or conservation organiza-
tions. 
‘‘(D) Representation shall be rotated among af-
fected tribal regions, taking into consideration— 
‘‘(i) the qualifications of the individuals on 
the list submitted under subparagraph (A); 
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‘‘(ii) the degree to which the Indian tribes 
located within the North Pacific Council region 
are dependent on anadromous fish and marine 
resources within such region and the effects of 
the actions of such Council on such resources; 
and 
‘‘(iii) the geographic area within which the 
tribe of the representative is located. 
‘‘(E) An individual appointed under subpara-
graph (A) may designate as an alternate an indi-
vidual knowledgeable with respect to tribal rights 
and fishing practicies, Indigenous traditional knowl-
edge, tribal law, and the marine resources managed 
by the North Pacific Council. 
‘‘(F) An individual appointed under subpara-
graph (A) shall serve on the North Pacific Council 
until such time as a new appointment to the tribal 
seat is made under that subparagraph. 
‘‘(G) In this paragraph, the term ‘covered In-
dian tribe’ means an Indian tribe in Alaska that is 
identified (including parenthetically) on the most 
current list published by the Secretary under section 
104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List 
Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).’’; and 
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(D) in paragraph (7), as so redesignated, 
by striking ‘‘paragraphs (2) or (5)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘paragraph (2), (5), or (6)’’; and 
(3) in subsection (j)(1)(A)(ii)(II), by striking 
‘‘subsection (b)(5)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (5) or 
(6) of subsection (b)’’. 
(b) WESTERN
PACIFIC
FISHERY
MANAGEMENT 
COUNCIL STUDY.—The Administrator shall conduct a 
study regarding the feasibility and implications of adding 
indigenous seats to the Western Pacific Fishery Manage-
ment Council established by section 302 of the Magnuson- 
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 
U.S.C. 1852) for the Western Pacific Fishery Manage-
ment Council region. 
SEC. 303. ATLANTIC COUNCILS. 
Section 302(a) (16 U.S.C. 1852(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘18’’ and inserting 
‘‘19’’; and 
(ii) by inserting before the period at 
the end the following: ‘‘and 1 liaison ap-
pointed by the Secretary in accordance 
with paragraph (4) who is a member of the 
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council 
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to represent the interests of fisheries under 
the jurisdiction of such Council’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘21’’ and inserting 
‘‘22’’; and 
(ii) by inserting before the period at 
the end the following: ‘‘and 1 liaison ap-
pointed by the Secretary in accordance 
with paragraph (4) who is a member of the 
New England Fishery Management Coun-
cil to represent the interests of fisheries 
under the jurisdiction of such Council’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) REQUIREMENTS FOR LIAISON.—The Sec-
retary shall appoint an individual to be a liaison be-
tween the Councils described in subparagraphs (A) 
and (B) of paragraph (1) who has expertise in a 
fishery that spans the geographical areas of both 
such Councils.’’. 
SEC. 304. COUNCIL PROCEDURES AND PARTICIPATION. 
(a) IN
GENERAL.—Section 302(e) (16 U.S.C. 
1852(e)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘At the re-
quest of any voting member of a Council, the Coun-
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cil shall hold a roll call vote on any matter before 
the Council.’’ and inserting ‘‘Each Council shall hold 
a roll call vote on all nonprocedural matters before 
the Council. At the request of any voting member of 
a Council, that Council shall hold a roll call vote on 
any procedural matter before the Council.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) To the extent possible, each Council 
shall— 
‘‘(A) seek to hold meetings in person; and 
‘‘(B) ensure the availability of remote 
meeting participation and voting.’’. 
(b) COUNCIL
MEETINGS.—Section 302(i)(2) (16 
U.S.C. 1852(i)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(G) Each Council shall make available on the 
internet website of the Council— 
‘‘(i) with respect to each meeting of the 
Council and of the Council Coordination Com-
mittee established under subsection (l) that is 
not closed in accordance with paragraph (3), to 
the extent possible, a webcast, live audio record-
ing, or live video broadcast of each such meet-
ing; and 
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‘‘(ii) with respect to each meeting of the 
Council and of the scientific and statistical 
committee established by the Council under 
subsection (g)(1)(A) that is not closed in ac-
cordance with paragraph (3), by not later than 
30 days after the conclusion of each such meet-
ing, an audio or video recording (if the meeting 
was in person or by video conference) or a 
searchable audio recording or written transcript 
of each such meeting. 
‘‘(H) The Secretary shall maintain and make 
available to the public, for a period of not less than 
5 years beginning on the date of a meeting, an ar-
chive of Council and scientific and statistical com-
mittee meeting audio and video recordings and tran-
scripts made available under subparagraph (G).’’. 
SEC. 305. COUNCIL ACCOUNTABILITY AND MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) VOTING
MEMBERS.—Section 302(b)(2) (16 
U.S.C. 1852(b)(2)) is amended— 
(1) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(A) REQUIRED
EXPERTISE.—In making 
each appointment to a Council under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall appoint an individual 
who, by reason of occupational or other experi-
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ence, scientific expertise, or training, is knowl-
edgeable regarding— 
‘‘(i) the conservation and manage-
ment, or the commercial, recreational, or 
subsistence harvest, of the fishery re-
sources of the geographic area concerned; 
or 
‘‘(ii) ecosystem-based fishery manage-
ment or climate science.’’; 
(2) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(B) APPORTIONMENT.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—In making each 
appointment under this section, the Sec-
retary shall, to the extent practicable, en-
sure a fair and balanced apportionment, on 
a rotating or other basis, of active partici-
pants (or the representatives of such par-
ticipants) in the commercial, recreational, 
and subsistence fisheries under the juris-
diction of the Council and of members of 
the conservation community, scientists, 
nonconsumptive users, and members of in-
digenous and tribal communities, as appli-
cable. 
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‘‘(ii) REPORT.—The Secretary shall, 
on an annual basis, submit to the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate and the Committee 
on Natural Resources of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report regarding the actions 
taken by the Secretary to ensure that a 
fair and balanced apportionment described 
in clause (i) is achieved, including— 
‘‘(I) a list of the fisheries under 
the jurisdiction of each Council, out-
lining for each fishery the type and 
quantity of fish harvested, fishing and 
processing methods employed, the 
number of participants, the duration 
and range of the fishery, and other 
distinguishing characteristics; 
‘‘(II) an assessment of the mem-
bership of each Council in terms of 
the apportionment of the active par-
ticipants in each such fishery and of 
members of the conservation commu-
nity, scientists, nonconsumptive users, 
and members of indigenous and tribal 
communities; and 
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‘‘(III) a statement of the plans 
and schedule of the Secretary for ac-
tions to achieve a fair and balanced 
apportionment on each Council for the 
active participants in any such fishery 
and for the categories of members 
listed in subclause (II).’’; 
(3) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(C) APPOINTMENTS.— 
‘‘(i) LIST FROM GOVERNOR.— 
‘‘(I) 
APPOINTMENT
FROM 
LIST.—The Secretary shall appoint 
the members of each Council from a 
list of individuals submitted by the 
Governor of each applicable con-
stituent State. 
‘‘(II) 
REQUIREMENTS
FOR 
LIST.—In submitting a list under sub-
clause (I), a Governor— 
‘‘(aa) may only submit the 
name of an individual if such 
Governor has determined such in-
dividual is qualified under sub-
paragraph (A); 
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‘‘(bb) 
shall 
include 
the 
names and pertinent biographical 
data of not less than 3 individ-
uals for each applicable vacancy; 
and 
‘‘(cc) shall include a state-
ment explaining how each indi-
vidual included on the list meets 
the requirements of subpara-
graph (A). 
‘‘(III) REVIEW.—The Secretary 
shall review each list submitted under 
this subparagraph. 
‘‘(IV) 
NOTIFICATION.—If 
the 
Secretary determines that an indi-
vidual included on a list submitted 
under this subparagraph does not 
meet the requirements of this para-
graph, the Secretary shall notify the 
appropriate Governor. 
‘‘(V) RESPONSE TO REVIEW.—If 
a Governor receives notification under 
subclause (IV), such Governor may 
submit a revised list or resubmit the 
original list with an additional expla-
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nation of the qualifications of the in-
dividual for which such Governor re-
ceived such a notification. 
‘‘(ii) INDIVIDUALS
WITHOUT
FINAN-
CIAL INTEREST.—The Secretary shall ap-
point to each Council at least 1 individual 
who does not have a financial interest in 
matters before the Council. 
‘‘(iii) FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE
RE-
QUIREMENTS.— An individual is not eligi-
ble for appointment by the Secretary until 
that individual complies with the applicable 
financial disclosure requirements under 
subsection (j).’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(F) GEOGRAPHICAL
REPRESENTATION.—In 
appointing at-large members to the Western Pacific 
Council, the Secretary shall ensure geographical rep-
resentation across each constituent State of such 
Council.’’. 
(b) DISCLOSURE
OF FINANCIAL INTEREST
AND 
RECUSAL.—Section 302(j) (16 U.S.C. 1852(j)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by amending paragraph (1)(B) to read as 
follows: 
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‘‘(B) the term ‘designated official’ means 
an attorney employed in the Office of the Gen-
eral Counsel of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration who— 
‘‘(i) has expertise in Federal conflict- 
of-interest requirements; and 
‘‘(ii) is designated by the Secretary, in 
consultation with a Council, to attend the 
meetings of such Council and make deter-
minations under paragraph (7)(B).’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting ‘‘con-
tractor,’’ after ‘‘partner,’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking ‘‘on the 
Internet’’ and inserting ‘‘on the internet website of 
the agency, on the internet website of the applicable 
Council,’’. 
(c) LOBBYING.—Section 302 (16 U.S.C. 1852) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(m) LOBBYING.— 
‘‘(1) PROHIBITION ON COUNCIL LOBBYING.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), each member of a Council, 
member of a Council advisory body, and em-
ployee or contractor of a Council, is prohibited 
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from using Federal funds to attempt to influ-
ence the— 
‘‘(i) introduction, advancement, enact-
ment, amendment, or repeal of Federal or 
State legislation; or 
‘‘(ii) issuance, modification, or over-
turning of an Executive order, Presidential 
proclamation, or similar Presidential direc-
tive or decree. 
‘‘(B) TECHNICAL AND FACTUAL PRESEN-
TATIONS.—An individual described in subpara-
graph (A) may provide a technical and factual 
presentation directly related to the performance 
of the duties of a Council, through hearing tes-
timony or written statements, if such presen-
tation is in response to a documented request 
and is made available under paragraph (4). 
‘‘(2) ADJUDICATING VIOLATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) INITIATION
BY
SECRETARY.—The 
Secretary may initiate an investigation of a po-
tential violation of paragraph (1). 
‘‘(B) COMPLAINT.—The Secretary shall in-
vestigate a complaint submitted by any person 
or government entity regarding a potential vio-
lation of paragraph (1). 
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‘‘(3) PENALTIES.—If the Secretary determines 
that an individual violated paragraph (1), such indi-
vidual shall be subject to disciplinary action, includ-
ing suspension or expulsion from participation in, 
membership of, or employment by a Council, Council 
advisory body, or related entity or activity. 
‘‘(4) TRAINING.—The Secretary shall provide 
training to individuals described in paragraph (1) re-
garding— 
‘‘(A) compliance with regulations issued to 
implement this subsection; and 
‘‘(B) general limits of Federal grant recipi-
ents on contacts with members and staff of the 
executive and legislative branches. 
‘‘(5) RESTRICTION
ON
EX-VOTING
MEMBER 
LOBBYING.—A voting member appointed to a Coun-
cil by the Secretary in accordance with paragraph 
(2), (5), or (6) of subsection (b) may not lobby the 
Council to which such member was appointed re-
garding any matter during the 1-year period begin-
ning on the date on which the term of such member 
expires, if such member has not been appointed to 
serve a subsequent term. 
‘‘(6) REPORT.—The Secretary shall annually 
submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of 
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the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate a report that describes— 
‘‘(A) the funding provided to implement 
this subsection; 
‘‘(B) complaints received of and investiga-
tions into potential violations of paragraph (1); 
and 
‘‘(C) barriers associated with and pro-
posals to improve implementation of this sub-
section. 
‘‘(n) WORKPLACE HARASSMENT PREVENTION.— 
‘‘(1) PROHIBITION.—The Secretary shall pro-
hibit any person from harassing a covered individual 
during the conduct of duties by such covered indi-
vidual under this Act. 
‘‘(2) HARASSMENT PREVENT TRAINING.—Coun-
cil members and staff shall, as a condition of em-
ployment, not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for 
the Future Act of 2025 or the first day of employ-
ment by a Council of such individual, and not less 
often than once every 2 years thereafter, complete 2 
hours of workplace harassment prevention training 
approved by the office authorized by section 3541 of 
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the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2017. 
‘‘(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) COVERED
INDIVIDUAL.—The term 
‘covered individual’ means— 
‘‘(i) a Council member; 
‘‘(ii) Council staff; 
‘‘(iii) a Council advisory panel mem-
ber; 
‘‘(iv) a member of a committee associ-
ated with a Council or the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration; 
‘‘(v) a Federal fishery permit holder; 
and 
‘‘(vi) a staff member, crew member, 
employee, or contractor associated with a 
federally permitted vessel or a facility pro-
viding services to such vessels. 
‘‘(B) HARASSMENT.—The term ‘harass-
ment’ means unwelcome verbal, visual, or phys-
ical conduct based on race, color, national ori-
gin, religion, age (40 and above), sex (including 
gender identity, sexual orientation, and preg-
nancy), disability, genetic information, or prior 
Equal Employment Opportunity activity.’’. 
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(d) JUDICIAL
REVIEW.—Section 305(f)(1) (16 
U.S.C. 1855(f)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘30’’ and in-
serting ‘‘60’’. 
(e) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall 
issue regulations to implement section 302(m) (16 U.S.C. 
1852(m)), as added by this section. 
SEC. 306. WESTERN PACIFIC SUSTAINABLE FISHERY FUND. 
Section 204(e) (16 U.S.C. 1824(e)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘in consultation with any 
appropriate Council,’’ and inserting ‘‘at the re-
quest and with the concurrence of the Governor 
of the applicable Pacific Insular Area,’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘a Pacific Insular Area— 
’’ and inserting ‘‘that Pacific Insular Area.’’; 
and 
(C) by striking subparagraphs (A) and 
(B); 
(2) in paragraph (3)(A)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘and’’ before ‘‘the Gov-
ernor’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘, and the appropriate 
Council’’; and 
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(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘Such permits shall also be consistent with any 
applicable fishery management plan.’’; 
(3) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘the Western Pacific 
Council and’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘of the applicable Pa-
cific Insular Area’’ after ‘‘Governor’’; and 
(iii) by amending clause (v) to read as 
follows— 
‘‘(v) western Pacific community-based 
demonstration 
projects 
under 
section 
112(b) of the Sustainable Fisheries Act 
and other coastal improvement projects in 
waters beyond the seaward boundary (as 
such term is defined in section 4 of the 
Submerged Lands Act) of any State to fos-
ter and promote the management, con-
servation, and economic enhancement of 
the Pacific Insular Areas.’’; and 
(B) by amending subparagraph (B) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(B) In the case of American Samoa, 
Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, the 
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appropriate Governor of the applicable Pacific 
Insular Area shall develop the marine conserva-
tion plan described in subparagraph (A) and 
submit such plan to the Secretary for approval. 
In the case of other Pacific Insular Areas, the 
Secretary and the appropriate Governor of the 
applicable Pacific Insular Area shall jointly de-
velop the marine conservation plan described in 
subparagraph (A).’’; 
(4) in paragraph (6)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) by striking subparagraph (B); and 
(C) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 
subparagraph (B); 
(5) in paragraph (7)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘, who shall provide such 
funds only to’’ and inserting ‘‘for the purposes 
of’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘the Western Pacific 
Council for the purpose of’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘as determined by the 
Secretary, in consultation with the Western 
Pacific Sustainable Fishery Fund Advisory 
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Panel 
established 
under 
section 
204(e)(9),’’ after ‘‘subsection,’’; 
(C) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
‘‘providing such funds as are necessary to’’ be-
fore ‘‘the Secretary’’; 
(D) by amending subparagraph (C) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(C) providing such funds as remain in the 
Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund 
after the funding requirements of subpara-
graphs (A) and (B) have been satisfied to the 
Governor of Hawaii to meet conservation and 
management objectives in the State of Ha-
waii.’’; and 
(E) by striking ‘‘Amounts deposited in 
such fund shall not diminish funding received 
by the Western Pacific Council for the purpose 
of carrying out other responsibilities under this 
Act.’’; and 
(6) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(9) WESTERN PACIFIC SUSTAINABLE FISHERY 
FUND ADVISORY PANEL.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—To assist in carrying 
out this subsection, the Secretary shall establish 
and convene an advisory panel under section 
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302(g), to be known as the ‘Western Pacific 
Sustainable Fishery Fund Advisory Panel’ (re-
ferred to in this paragraph as the ‘advisory 
panel’), to evaluate, determine the relative mer-
its of, and annually rank applications for grants 
for implementation of marine conservation 
plans approved under paragraph (4). 
‘‘(B) MEMBERS.—The advisory panel shall 
consist of members such that— 
‘‘(i) the Governor of each applicable 
Pacific Insular Area selects 1 member; and 
‘‘(ii) no member may be a member or 
employee of the Western Pacific Council. 
‘‘(C) AWARD NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH 
RANK.—If the Secretary awards a grant for a 
project not in accordance with the rank given to 
such project by the advisory panel, the Sec-
retary shall provide a detailed written expla-
nation of the reasons for such award. 
‘‘(D) NOTICE.—The Secretary shall pro-
vide to the public timely notice of each meeting 
of the advisory panel. 
‘‘(E) MINUTES.—The Secretary shall keep 
and make available to the public minutes of 
each meeting of the advisory panel. 
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143 
‘‘(3) INFORMATION
TO
COUNCIL.—The Sec-
retary shall inform each Council that has authority 
over an affected fishery of any consultation carried 
out under this subsection, including information re-
garding the proposed action and the potential ad-
verse effects, and each such Council— 
‘‘(A) may comment on and make rec-
ommendations to the Secretary and any Federal 
or State agency concerning any activity author-
ized, funded, or undertaken, or proposed to be 
authorized, funded, or undertaken, by any Fed-
eral or State agency that, in the view of the 
Council, may affect the habitat, including es-
sential fish habitat, of a fishery resource under 
the authority of such Council; and 
‘‘(B) shall comment on and make rec-
ommendations to the Secretary and any Federal 
or State agency concerning any such activity 
that, in the view of the Council, is likely to sub-
stantially affect the habitat, including essential 
fish habitat, of an anadromous fishery resource 
under the authority of such Council. 
‘‘(4) INFORMATION FROM OTHER SOURCES.— 
‘‘(A) RECEIPT OF INFORMATION.—If the 
Secretary determines based on information re-
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