FISHES Act

Bill: 118-hr-5103
Sponsor: Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]
Introduced: 2023-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance
Government information and archives
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2023-08-01
text: 

Fishery Improvement to Streamline untimely regulatory Hurdles post Emergency Situation Act or the FISHES Act

This bill establishes deadlines for the approval of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) requests for fishery resource disaster assistance funding.

Specifically, the bill requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve or deny a spend plan (a type of funding request submitted to NOAA by a state, an Indian tribe, or other eligible requester with an affirmative fishery resource disaster determination) within 30 days of its receipt from NOAA. For any denial, OMB must return the plan to NOAA within 15 days of the denial with a description of the changes necessary for the spend plan to be approved. The bill provides that NOAA, in consultation with the requester, must make the necessary changes and resubmit the spend plan to OMB for approval. OMB must approve or deny a resubmitted spend plan within 15 days of its receipt.

The bill also requires OMB to provide certain information regarding approved spend plans (e.g., the dates of the approval and each denial or resubmission) on its website. 
 
action_date: 2024-11-14
text: 

Fishery Improvement to Streamline untimely regulatory Hurdles post Emergency Situation Act or the FISHES Act

This bill establishes procedures for the review of spend plans submitted to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by requesters seeking fishery resource disaster assistance funding.

The bill requires NOAA to review a spend plan within 10 days of its submission and determine whether it is complete. If such spend plan is not complete, NOAA must provide the requester (i.e., prospective grantee) with a detailed description of the information that is necessary for the spend plan to be determined complete. Further, NOAA must notify a requester when the spend plan has been determined to be complete. 

Under current law, fishery resource disaster assistance funds must be disbursed to approved grantees within 90 days after NOAA has received a completed spend plan. The bill provides that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) may review a completed spend plan concurrently with NOAA, provided OMB's review does not delay the 90-day timeline for providing funds to the grantee.

action_date: 2025-01-04
text: 

Fishery Improvement to Streamline untimely regulatory Hurdles post Emergency Situation Act or the FISHES Act

This act establishes procedures for the review of spend plans submitted to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by requesters seeking fishery resource disaster assistance funding.

The act requires NOAA to review a spend plan within 10 days of its submission and determine whether it is complete. If such spend plan is not complete, NOAA must provide the requester (i.e., prospective grantee) with a detailed description of the information that is necessary for the spend plan to be determined complete. Further, NOAA must notify a requester when the spend plan has been determined to be complete. 

Under current law, fishery resource disaster assistance funds must be disbursed to approved grantees within 90 days after NOAA has received a completed spend plan. The act provides that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) may review a completed spend plan concurrently with NOAA, provided OMB's review does not delay the 90-day timeline for providing funds to the grantee.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-01-04
text: Became Public Law No: 118-229.
action_date: 2025-01-04
text: Became Public Law No: 118-229.
action_date: 2025-01-04
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2025-01-04
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2024-12-27
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2024-12-27
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2024-12-23
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2024-12-21
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7317)
action_date: 2024-12-21
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2024-12-21
text: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2024-12-21
text: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2024-12-04
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2024-12-03
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2024-12-03
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6268)
action_date: 2024-12-03
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6268)
action_date: 2024-12-03
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5103.
action_date: 2024-12-03
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6268-6269)
action_date: 2024-12-03
text: Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2024-11-14
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 618.
action_date: 2024-11-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-733.
action_date: 2024-11-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-733.
action_date: 2024-09-19
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2024-09-19
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
action_date: 2024-09-19
text: Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Discharged
action_date: 2023-10-25
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held
action_date: 2023-10-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries.
action_date: 2023-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2023-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-08-01
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 118-229