A bill to ensure fair treatment in licensing requirements for the export of certain echinoderms.

Bill: 115-s-1206
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2017-05-23
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Department of the Interior

Endangered and threatened species

Hunting and fishing

Licensing and registrations

Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Seafood

Trade restrictions

User charges and fees

Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Latest action: action_date: 2017-05-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-05-23
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p> This bill: (1) exempts exporters of sea urchins and sea cucumbers that are designated as food for humans or animals or taken for recreational purposes from licensing requirements; and (2) requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to amend regulations concerning transporting wildlife to clarify that those sea urchins and sea cucumbers are fishery products exempt from the export permission requirements under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Thus, those exporters will be exempted from: (1) inspections to ensure shipments of those fishery products do not contain endangered or threatened species, and (2) related inspection fees.</p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1206 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 23, 2017 Mr. King (for himself and Ms. Collins ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To ensure fair treatment in licensing requirements for the export of certain echinoderms.

1. Exemption of exportation of certain echinoderms from permission and licensing requirements (a) Exemption Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall amend section 14.92 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, to clarify that— (1) fish or wildlife described in subsection (b) are fishery products exempt from the export permission requirements of section 9(d)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1538(d)(1) ); and (2) any person may engage in business as an exporter of fish or wildlife described in subsection (b) without procuring— (A) permission under section 9(d)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1538(d)(1) ); or (B) an export license under subpart I of part 14 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations). (b) Covered fish or wildlife The fish or wildlife referred to in subsection (a) are members of the phylum Echinodermata that are commonly known as sea urchins and sea cucumbers (including any products of those members of the phylum Echinodermata) that— (1) do not require a permit under part 16, 17, or 23 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations); (2) (A) are harvested in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States; or (B) are processed in the United States; and (3) are— (A) exported for purposes of human or animal consumption; or (B) taken in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States or on the high seas for recreational purposes.