zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Fishing Economy Improvement Act

This bill revises and reauthorizes through FY2021 the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA).

In managing highly migratory species that frequent the exclusive economic zone adjoining U.S. territories, the Department of Commerce must ensure participation of the territories.

If funds in the Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund are attributable to a particular U.S. territory, they must be sent to the territory instead of the Western Pacific Council.

Fishery management plans must include descriptions of subsistence or small scale traditional fishing.

The bill makes permanent the authority of Washington, Oregon, and California to adopt and enforce state laws governing fishing and processing in the exclusive economic zone adjacent to their state in any Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) fishery for which there is no fishery management plan in effect under the MSA.

The bill provides for the use of electronic monitoring of fisheries and public participation in the fishery management process by requiring certain meetings be broadcasted online.

Commerce must publish a plan within a year for implementing and conducting the cooperative research and management program.

The Fisheries Conservation and Management Fund is renamed the Zeke Grader Fisheries Conservation and Management Fund.

Commerce must: (1) implement a real-time reporting and data collection program for the Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery using available technology, and (2) develop a schedule of stock surveys and stock assessments for the Gulf of Mexico Region and the South Atlantic Region for the next five years and every 5-year period thereafter.

Commerce must: (1) establish partnerships with states to develop best practices for implementing state programs that collect data on recreational fisheries, and (2) provide grants to states to improve implementation of those programs.

Commerce may make grants to support programs that address certain needs of fishing communities.

Commerce is given 90 days to determine if a fishery resource disaster exists for fisheries that originate within the Central Valley Project service area.

Commerce must enter into an agreement with the United States Digital Service for the Service to make recommendations to modernize and streamline the fishery data collection, processing, analysis, and storage systems of the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Date: 2015-04-15
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Fluke Fairness Act 

This bill directs the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to submit for approval by the Department of Commerce a modified fishery management plan for the commercial and recreational management of summer flounder, or an amendment to the plan, that:

 is based on the best scientific information available; reflects changes in the distribution, abundance, and location of summer flounder in establishing distribution of the commercial and recreational catch quotas; considers regional, coastwide, or other management measures that comply with national standards under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; and prohibits the allocation of catch quotas on a state-by-state basis using historical landings data that does not reflect the status of the summer flounder stock, based on the most recent scientific information. Commerce must prepare and approve a plan if the Council fails to submit the modifications or amendments.

The Government Accountability Office must assess and report on whether the subsequent implementation of the approved plan or amendment complies with national standards.

Date: 2015-04-16
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
This bill amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to authorize the Department of Commerce to make grants to support programs that address needs of fishing communities by: (1) providing health promotion and disease prevention services, (2) providing financial planning education and other services to improve the financial stability of families and small businesses, (3) supporting positive community response to tragedies at sea, or (4) providing workforce development training.

Date: 2015-04-23
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Striped Bass American Heritage Act

This bill designates the Atlantic striped bass (Morone saxatilis) as the national fish.

Date: 2015-04-28
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Animals
Fisheries Investment and Regulatory Relief Act of 2015

This bill amends the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act to revise the program under which the Department of Commerce provides financial assistance for fisheries research and development projects. Each Regional Fishery Management Council must establish a fishery investment committee to: (1) develop a regional fishery investment plan identifying research, conservation, management needs, and actions to rebuild and maintain healthy fish populations and sustainable fisheries over a five-year period; and (2) make recommendations to the council on grant applications and projects to implement those plans.

The plans must be revised and approved by the relevant council at least once every five years.

The grant program for fisheries research and development projects is replaced with a grant program to advance regional priorities included in those plans.

Commerce must carry out a national program of fisheries research and investment that supports rebuilding and maintaining healthy U.S. fish populations and promotes sustainable fisheries rather than a fisheries research and development program.

National fisheries investment program funds must be used for investing in U.S. fisheries rather than promoting the fisheries. Specified percentages of funding are allocated to the regional councils and marine fisheries commissions. The Department of Agriculture must transfer a certain amount of funds generated from duties collected on imported fish products for use only to strengthen regional fisheries management through the committees, plans, and grants.

Commerce must review the regulations and procedures used to implement title III of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and make recommendations for streamlining them.

Date: 2015-04-29
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
West Coast Dungeness Crab Management Act

This bill makes permanent the authority of Washington, Oregon, and California to adopt and enforce state laws governing fishing and processing in the exclusive economic zone adjacent to their state in any Dungeness crab fishery for which there is no fishery management plan in effect under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Date: 2015-04-30
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
National Mitigation Fisheries Coordination Act

This bill directs the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to impose a charge for conducting mitigation fishery activities in connection with federal water resources development projects carried out by water development agencies (the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, or the Tennessee Valley Authority). The agencies must pay the charge in accordance with a fishery mitigation plan developed and approved by the USFWS Director and the agency head.

"Mitigation fishery activities" are the rearing and stocking of native and nonnative fish to replace or maintain fishery resources or harvest levels lost as a result of a project, including project planning, population assessment and evaluation, genetic monitoring, broodstock development, and fish health sampling.

 USFWS's charges must be reasonably related to expenditures necessary to: (1) operate, maintain, and rehabilitate certain USFWS-owned and -operated mitigation fishery facilities, hatcheries, and health centers; and (2) conduct mitigation fishery activities, including expenditures for personnel, transportation, utilities, contractual services, fish feed, supplies, equipment, routine maintenance, deferred maintenance, fish eggs, technical support, fish health, management and administration, planning, outreach and education, and hatchery product evaluations.

The bill lists the applicable mitigation fishery facilities in Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Date: 2015-05-05
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Water resources development
Rhode Island Fishermen's Fairness Act 

This bill amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to add Rhode Island to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and increase Council membership from 21 to 23 members. The Council is not given authority over the fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean seaward of Rhode Island.

Date: 2015-05-21
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Gulf States Red Snapper Management Authority Act 

(Sec.2)This bill amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to direct the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)to establish a Gulf States Red Snapper Management Authority (GSRSMA) that consists of the principal fisheries manager of each of the five Gulf of Mexico coastal states: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The GSRSMA must:

 establish a deadline for each Gulf coastal state to submit to the GSRSMA a fishery management plan for the long-term sustainability of Gulf of Mexico red snapper, review those plans and approve them if they meet the requirements of this bill, provide standards for each Gulf coastal state to use in developing fishery management measures to sustainably manage the Gulf of Mexico red snapper in the coastal waters adjacent to the state, and provide an opportunity for public participation before approving a plan. For three years, the NMFS must continue to manage the commercial sector of the Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery in coordination with the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.

The bill establishes a plan certification process. After the three-year period and once a plan is certified, the NMFS must transfer management of the Gulf of Mexico red snapper to the GSRSMA. Each Gulf coastal state must then implement and enforce approved plans for the fishery in the coastal waters adjacent to it.

If the Gulf of Mexico red snapper in the coastal waters adjacent to a Gulf coastal state is experiencing overfishing or is subject to a rebuilding plan, the state must certify to the GSRSMA that it has implemented the necessary measures to end overfishing or rebuild the fishery and has implemented a harvest monitoring program. A process is established for closing a red snapper fishery within the waters adjacent to the state territorial waters of the Gulf coastal state if those measures have not been implemented.

Date: 2015-07-16
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Preserving Public Access to Public Waters Act

This bill directs the Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce to obtain approval from the relevant fish and wildlife management agency of a state or territory before restricting fishing access to state or territorial marine waters that are within the jurisdiction of the National Park Service or the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, including coastal waters and estuaries.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Gulf Red Snapper Data Improvement Act

This bill requires the National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Regional Office to award grants for data collection that is used in stock assessments for reef fish species in the Gulf of Mexico, including the red snapper. In awarding grants, the Office must seek to improve stock assessments through innovative approaches to data collection that incorporates data from peer-reviewed research involving academia, fishermen, and other fisheries sources.

The Department of Commerce must: (1) seek to improve communications by the National Marine Fisheries Service with stakeholders regarding the reef fish species stock assessment processes and outcomes of those processes, and (2) develop a process for using data collected through cooperative research activities for those stock assessments.

Date: 2015-09-16
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
South Atlantic Red Snapper Data Improvement Act

This bill requires the National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Regional Office to award grants for data collection that is used in stock assessments for reef fish species in the South Atlantic region, including the red snapper. In awarding grants, the Office must seek to improve stock assessments through innovative approaches to data collection that incorporates data from peer-reviewed research involving academia, fishermen, and other fisheries sources.

The Department of Commerce must: (1) seek to improve communications by the National Marine Fisheries Service with stakeholders regarding the reef fish species stock assessment processes and outcomes of those processes, and (2) develop a process for using data collected through cooperative research activities for those stock assessments.

Date: 2015-09-29
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
New England Fishermen Preservation Act

This bill prohibits the Department of Commerce from requiring sectors of the Northeast Multispecies Fishery to comply with the independent, third-party monitoring program, unless the program is fully funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The program monitors annual catch limits for fishing vessels in that sector. Currently, those sectors are required to develop and implement those programs, and are responsible for the program costs.

Date: 2015-10-01
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Alaskan Pollock and Golden King Crab Labeling Act

This bill declares the acceptable market name of Gadus chalcogrammus is "pollock" and the acceptable market name of Lithodes aequispinus is "golden king crab."

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow the sale of pollock labeled "Alaskan pollock" or "Alaska pollock" only if the pollock was harvested in the exclusive economic zone or state waters adjacent to Alaska.

Date: 2015-10-22
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Health
(Sec. 1) This bill requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to issue a proposed rule that establishes expedited procedures relating to the export permission requirements of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 for sea urchins and sea cucumbers that are designated as food for humans or animals. The USFWS may include in the rule an exemption from export permission requirements or export licensing requirements for those species.

If an exemption will have a significant negative impact on the conservation of sea urchins or sea cucumbers, the USFWS may not provide the exemption to the requirements. In addition, the USFWS may not provide an exemption to an entity that has been convicted of a violation of a law relating to the importation, transportation, or exportation of wildlife in the five years preceding the date on which the entity applied for the exemption.

Date: 2015-12-11
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Environmental protection
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on June 28, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Save Our Salmon Act or the SOS Act

(Sec. 3)This bill amends the Central Valley Project Improvement Act to exclude striped bass from the project to requirereasonable efforts to ensure all anadromous fish naturally produce at twice the average levels in Central Valley rivers and streams.

Striped bass are non-native anadromous fish that prey on native salmon and steelhead and must be reduced in abundance to prevent the extinction of Central Valley salmon and steelhead.

Date: 2016-02-23
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Animals
Great Lakes Fishery Research Authorization Act of 2016

This bill authorizes the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct critical monitoring, scientific assessments, and research in support of fisheries within the Great Lakes Basin between the United States and Canada.

In support of the fisheries within the Great Lakes Basin, the USGS Great Lakes Science Center shall: (1) execute a comprehensive, multi-lake, freshwater fisheries science program; (2) work cooperatively with regional, state, tribal, and local governments; and (3) consult with interested groups, including academia and Canadian agencies.

 To protect and improve the Great Lakes, the USGS Great Lakes Science Center may provide:

 deep-water ecosystem research, fish behavior and habitat reports, fish population assessments, invasive species research, use of biological equipment and laboratory capabilities necessary to support fishery management decisions, and studies that assess impacts on Great Lakes Fishery resources.

Date: 2016-02-23
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Crab Emergency Disaster Assistance Act of 2016

This bill appropriates funds to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide disaster relief funds to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. These funds will assist fisherman and small businesses, including restaurants, which have suffered economic hardship due to the shutdown of the commercial Dungeness and rock crab season on the U.S. West Coast. These funds become available when the Department of Commerce makes a determination declaring a commercial fishery failure or fishery disaster for either the Dungeness crab fishery or the rock crab fishery.

Dungeness and rock crab fisheries on the West Coast may contain dangerous levels of domoic acid, a neurotoxin produced by harmful algal blooms that can cause shellfish poisoning. The bill appropriates funds to NOAA for the sampling and monitoring of domoic acid found in the fisheries. In addition, NOAA must distribute grants for research on harmful algal blooms and domoic acid toxicity.

Date: 2016-03-03
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Genetically Engineered Salmon Labeling Act

This bill requires the market name of genetically modified (commonly called "GMO") salmon to include "Genetically Engineered" or "GE" in front of the existing market name.

The Department of Health and Human Services must ensure that an independent scientific organization reviews and reports on the Food and Drug Administration's environmental assessment of AquAdvantage Salmon.

Date: 2016-03-03
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Health
American Fisheries Advisory Committee Act

This bill amends the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act to direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)to establish the American Fisheries Advisory Committee.

NOAA must establish five regions within the committee.The committee must consist of members chosen regionally and across all sectors of the fishing industry.Additionally, the committee must: (1)identify the needs of the fishing industry, (2)develop grant proposals to fund projects that address the industry needs, (3)review grant applications, and (4)provide NOAA with grant applicants for approval.

NOAA must not approve a grant application unless the application is selected for funding by the committee.

Date: 2016-07-13
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
This bill makes it unlawful to engage in the commercial harvesting of Atlantic striped bass in the coastal waters or in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The EEZ is a zone contiguous to the territorial sea, including zones contiguous to the territorial sea of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and United States overseas territories and possessions.

Violators are subject to civil penalties and forfeitures.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission must amend its Interstate Fisheries Management Plan for Atlantic striped bass to take in to account this prohibition.Similarly, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must adjust the scope of its Albemarle Sound-Roanoke River Basin Striped Bass Study.

Date: 2016-11-30
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Animals
Red Snapper Management Improvement Act

This bill gives Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas (Gulf coastal states) exclusive authority to manage and conserve the red snapper in both the waters of each Gulf coastal state and the exclusive economic zone in the Gulf of Mexico if each of those states agree to a fishery management plan for the stainability of the red snapper and the economic and community benefits of the Gulf coastal states.

If each of those states agrees to a fishery management plan, Department of Commerce must provide appropriate funding to them for stock assessments and data collection related to the red snapper fishery.

Date: 2015-01-07
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Genetically Engineered Salmon Risk Reduction Act 

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require food that contains genetically engineered (commonly called a "genetically modified organism" or "GMO") salmon to bear a label stating that fact.

The bill requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 before approving a new animal drug application for GMO salmon intended for human consumption. (Currently, the FDA regulates GMO animals under the new animal drug provisions of that Act. If the FDA finalizes its environmental assessment and the Finding of No Significant Impact, it would not be required to prepare an EIS for that salmon.) The EIS prepared pursuant to this bill must focus on the coast along California to Alaska and GMO fish, including salmon, other anadromous fish (fish that migrate from the salt water of the sea to spawn in the fresh water of rivers), or marine fish. The EIS must include:

 an environmental risk analysis that assesses the potential impacts from escapement of the GMO fish on wild and cultured fish stocks and environments, a failure mode and effects analysis that assesses the best- and worst-case probabilities of failure of each confinement technique, an assessment of the costs of control or eradication of escaped GMO fish, and an assessment of the potential economic damage to relevant wild and cultured fish stocks and environments from the escapement of GMO fish.

Date: 2015-03-12
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Fluke Fairness Act of 2015

This bill directs the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to submit for approval by the Department of Commerce a modified fishery management plan for the commercial and recreational management of summer flounder, or an amendment to the plan, that:

 is based on the best scientific information available; reflects changes in the distribution, abundance, and location of summer flounder in establishing distribution of the commercial and recreational catch quotas; considers regional, coastwide, or other management measures that comply with national standards under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; and prohibits the allocation of catch quotas on a state-by-state basis using historical landings data that does not reflect the status of the summer flounder stock, based on the most recent scientific information. Commerce must prepare and approve a plan if the Council fails to submit the modifications or amendments.

The Government Accountability Office must assess and report on whether the subsequent implementation of the approved plan or amendment complies with national standards.

Date: 2015-04-28
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

West Coast Dungeness Crab Management Act

(Sec. 2)This bill makes permanent the authority of Washington, Oregon, and California to adopt and enforce state laws governing fishing and processing in the exclusive economic zone adjacent to their state in any Dungeness crab fishery for which there is no fishery management plan in effect under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Date: 2015-04-30
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Florida Fisheries Improvement Act

TITLE I-- CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

(Sec.101)This bill amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) to revise requirements for fishery management in the Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic.

 Regional fishery management councils may use alternative fishery management measures in a recreational fishery.

(Sec. 102) The bill revises requirements for fishery management plans, including by exempting certain species from fishery rebuilding requirements, changing how to determine the timelines for rebuilding fisheries, and repealing the requirement for plans to contain catch limits for red snapper.

(Sec.103)Funds received as fines, penalties, and forfeitures of property for violations of marine resource law may be used for the cost of stock assessments, surveys, and data collection on fisheries.

(Sec.104)A citizen owning or leasing an eligible fishery facility may make an agreement with the Department of Commerce to establish a capital construction fund to provide for the acquisition, construction, or reconstruction of a qualified facility.

(Sec.105)Commerce must make a decision on whether there is a commercial fishery failure because of a fishery resource disaster within 90 days of a receiving a complete estimate of the economic impact of the disaster.

(Sec.106)The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and the South Atlantic Council must review, at least every five years, the allocation of fishing privileges. The Councils may delay the review for three one-year periods.

(Sec. 107) Commerce must enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study on allocating fishing privileges.

TITLE II--FISHERY INFORMATION, RESEARCH, AND DEVELOPMENT

(Sec. 201)Commerce must: (1) develop and publish a plan to conduct stock assessments for all stocks of fish for which a MSA fishery management plan is in effect, unless the assessment is not necessary; and (2) report on facilitating greater incorporation of data, analysis, stock assessments, and surveys from nongovernmental sources into fisheries management decisions.

(Sec. 203) The bill prohibits consideration by Congress of any bill that reduces any amount in the Fisheries Promotion Fund.

Date: 2015-05-20
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
New England Fishermen Preservation Act

This bill prohibits the Department of Commerce from requiring sectors of the Northeast Multispecies Fishery to comply with the independent, third-party monitoring program, unless the program is fully funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The program monitors annual catch limits for fishing vessels in that sector. Currently, those sectors are required to develop and implement those programs, and are responsible for the program costs.

Date: 2015-09-17
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Alaskan Pollock and Golden King Crab Labeling Act

This bill declares the acceptable market name of Gadus chalcogrammus is "pollock" and the acceptable market name of Lithodes aequispinus is "golden king crab."

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow the sale of pollock labeled "Alaskan pollock" or "Alaska pollock" only if the pollock was harvested in the exclusive economic zone or state waters adjacent to Alaska.

Date: 2015-09-29
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Health
Great Lakes Fishery Research Authorization Act of 2016

This bill authorizes the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct critical monitoring, scientific assessments, and research in support of fisheries within the Great Lakes Basin between the United States and Canada.

In support of the fisheries within the Great Lakes Basin, the USGS Great Lakes Science Center shall: (1) execute a comprehensive, multi-lake, freshwater fisheries science program; (2) work cooperatively with regional, state, tribal, and local governments; and (3) consult with interested groups, including academia and Canadian agencies.

To protect and improve the Great Lakes, the USGS Great Lakes Science Center may provide:

 deep-water ecosystem research, fish behavior and habitat reports, fish population assessments, invasive species research, use of biological equipment and laboratory capabilities necessary to support fishery management decisions, and studies that assess impacts on Great Lakes Fishery resources.

Date: 2016-02-23
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Genetically Engineered Salmon Labeling Act

This bill requires the market name of genetically modified (commonly called "GMO") salmon to include "Genetically Engineered" or "GE" in front of the existing market name.

The Department of Health and Human Services must ensure that an independent scientific organization: (1) reviews and reports on the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) environmental assessment of AquAdvantage Salmon, and (2) conducts its own environmental assessment of the salmon.

Upon receipt of the report from the independent scientific organization, the FDA must conduct another environmental assessment of the salmon, taking into account the findings in the report.

Date: 2016-03-03
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Health
Crab Emergency Disaster Assistance Act of 2016

This bill appropriates funds to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide disaster relief funds to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. These funds will assist fisherman and small businesses, including restaurants, which have suffered economic hardship due to the shutdown of the commercial Dungeness and rock crab season on the U.S. West Coast. These funds become available when the Department of Commerce makes a determination declaring a commercial fishery failure or fishery disaster for either the Dungeness crab fishery or the rock crab fishery.

Dungeness and rock crab fisheries on the West Coast may contain dangerous levels of domoic acid, a neurotoxin produced by harmful algal blooms that can cause shellfish poisoning. The bill appropriates funds to NOAA for the sampling and monitoring of domoic acid found in the fisheries. In addition, NOAA must distribute grants for research on harmful algal blooms and domoic acid toxicity.

Date: 2016-03-08
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Preserving Public Access to Public Waters Act

This bill directs the Department of the Interior to obtain approval from the relevant fish and wildlife management agency of a state or territory before restricting fishing access to state or territorial marine waters that are within the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, including coastal waters and estuaries.

Date: 2016-04-18
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
This bill reauthorizes the Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act through FY2024 to fund the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in carrying out projects in the Pacific Northwest. Projects under the Act are designed to: (1) decrease fish mortality associated with the withdrawal of water for irrigation and other purposes without impairing the continued withdrawal of water, and (2) decrease the incidence of juvenile and adult fish entering water supply systems.

Date: 2016-04-28
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
American Fisheries Advisory Committee Act

(Sec. 2)This bill amends the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act to direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)to establish the American Fisheries Advisory Committee.

NOAA must establish six regions within the committee.The committee must consist of members chosen regionally and across all sectors of the fishing industry.Additionally, the committee must: (1)identify the needs of the fishing industry, (2)develop grant proposals to fund projects that address the industry needs, (3)review grant applications, and (4)provide NOAA with grant applicants for approval.

NOAA may not approve a grant application unlessthe application selected for funding meets the proposal criteria developed by the committee.

(Sec.3) An individual awarded a grant under this bill must publicize the title and abstract of the project.

Date: 2016-06-22
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Shark Fin Trade Elimination Act of 2016

This bill makes it illegal to possess, buy, sell, transport, or trade shark fins or any product containing shark fins.A person may possess a shark fin that was lawfully taken consistent with a license or permit under certain circumstances.

 Penalties areimposedfor violations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Date: 2016-06-23
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Animals
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Access for Sportfishing Act of 2016

(Sec.2)This bill requires the National Park Service to meet several requirements before implementing any fishing restrictions in Biscayne National Park located in Homestead, Florida. The requirements include basing any restriction on sound fisheries management, coordinating with the state of Florida, prioritizing scientific information relied upon by the state of Florida, and ensuring any restriction is the least restrictive measure necessary.

(Sec.3)Additionally, the bill amends the Shark Conservation Act of 2010 to make shark feeding illegal in all U.S. waters.

The bill alsoamends the Billfish Conservation Act to maintain a prohibition on the sale of marlin, sailfish, and spearfish while ensuring that the exemption for traditional fisheries does not create new markets for these species.

Nothing in this bill shall affect the authority of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish conservation and management regulationsunder the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Date: 2016-06-23
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Safeguard Aquaculture Farmers Act

This bill provides the force and effect of law for certain regulations that allow for the taking of double- crested cormorants (birds) that eat fish at aquaculture facilities.

Date: 2016-12-05
Topic: Agriculture (Fisheries & Fishing)
Subject: Animals
Energy Technology Transfer Act - Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to direct the Secretary of Energy to award grants for a five-year period to nonprofit institutions, state and local governments, cooperative extension services, or institutions of higher education to establish a geographically dispersed network of Advanced Energy Technology Transfer Centers, located in areas the Secretary determines have the greatest need of their services.Requires the Secretary to: (1) give priority to applicants already operating or partnered with an outreach program capable of transferring such knowledge and information about advanced energy efficiency methods and technologies; (2) give preference to those that would significantly expand on or fill a gap in existing programs in a geographical region; and (3) consider the special needs and opportunities for increased energy efficiency for manufactured and site-built housing, including construction, renovation, and retrofit.Sets forth Center activities and operations. Prescribes selection criteria.Prohibits the use of grant funds for facilities construction.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Energy (R&D)
Subject: Energy
Establishes the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) within the Department of Energy to reduce the amount of energy the United States imports from foreign sources by 20% over the next 10 years. Establishes the Energy Independence Acceleration Fund, administered by the ARPA-E Director for the award of competitive grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to institutions of higher education, companies, or consortia, including federally funded research and development centers, to achieve specified goals through targeted acceleration of: (1) energy-related research; (2) development of resultant techniques, processes, and technologies, and related testing and evaluation; and (3) demonstration and commercial application of the most promising technologies and research applications. Directs the Secretary to establish procedures and criteria for recoupment of the federal share of each project supported under this Act. Requires the President's Committee on Science and Technology to evaluate for Congress and the public how well ARPA-E is achieving its goals and mission.

Date: 2007-01-10
Topic: Energy (R&D)
Subject: Energy
United States-Israel Energy Cooperation Act - Instructs the Secretary of Energy, in implementing the Agreement between the Department of Energy of the United States of America and the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure of Israel Concerning Energy Cooperation, to establish a grant program to support research, development, and commercialization of alternative renewable energy sources. Authorizes grants to promote the following: (1) solar energy; (2) biomass energy; (3) energy efficiency; (4) wind energy; and (5) fossil energy. Directs the Secretary to establish an advisory board to: (1) monitor how such grants are awarded; and (2) provide periodic performance reviews of actions taken to carry out the grant program.

Date: 2007-05-09
Topic: Energy (R&D)
Subject: International affairs
Produced Water Utilization Act of 2008 - Defines "produced water" to mean water from an underground source that is brought to the surface as part of the process of exploration for or development of coalbed methane, oil, natural gas, or any other substance to be used as an energy source.Requires the Secretary of Energy, in conjunction with an existing domestic petroleum production program of the Department of Energy, to conduct a program of research, development, and demonstration of technologies for environmentally sustainable utilization of produced water for agriculture, irrigation, municipal, or industrial uses or other environmentally sustainable purposes. Requires the program to be designed to maximize the utilization of produced water in the United States by increasing its quality and reducing its environmental impacts.Requires that the program address: (1) produced water recovery, including research for desalination and demineralization to reduce total dissolved solids in the produced water; (2) re-injection of produced water into subsurface geological formations to increase energy production; and (3) improving safety and minimizing environmental impacts of such activities.Requires the Secretary, through the appropriate National Laboratory, to carry out research, development, and demonstration activities that are complementary to and supportive of such program.Authorizes appropriations.

Date: 2007-05-16
Topic: Energy (R&D)
Subject: Water resources development
Biofuels Research Initiative Act of 2007 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish grants to the lead land grant university for each regional consortium. Prescribes the use of such grants. Requires each regional university consortium to provide competitive grants to Agricultural and Land Grant colleges and universities in the region of the consortium. Directs the Secretary to establish a Bio Energy Consortium led by five universities meeting specified criteria, which shall be responsible to identify talents and expertise that contribute to advancing biomass for energy.

Date: 2007-05-22
Topic: Energy (R&D)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Authorizes the National Science Foundation (NSF), in carrying out its Energy for Sustainability program, to accept and use funds contributed by the Department of Energy (DOE) from the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy program, to support projects that enable related research and development activities within those programs. Requires the Director of the NSF to consult with the Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy when preparing solicitations for such projects.

Date: 2007-10-17
Topic: Energy (R&D)
Subject: Energy
New Manhattan Project for Energy Independence - Requires the President to convene a summit to review the progress and promise of, the interrelationship of, and the additional funding needed to accelerate the progress of: (1) developing alternative technology vehicles that are not more than 10% more expensive than comparable model year vehicles; (2) developing and building energy efficient buildings that use no more than 50% of the energy of buildings of similar size and type; (3) constructing a large scale solar thermal power plant or solar photovoltaic power plant capable of generating 300 megawatts or more at a cost of 10 cents or less per kilowatt-hour; (4) developing and producing biofuel that does not exceed 105% of the cost for the energy equivalent of unleaded gasoline; (5) developing and implementing a carbon capture and storage system for a large scale coal-burning power plant that does not increase operating costs more than 15% compared to a baseline design without carbon capture and storage while providing an estimated chance of carbon dioxide escape of no greater than 1% over 5,000 years; (6) developing both a process to remediate radioactive waste so that it is not harmful for at least 5,000 years and a model that accounts for the effects of nuclear waste in that process; and (7) developing a sustainable nuclear fusion reaction capable of providing a large-scale sustainable source of electricity for residential, commercial, or government entities.Requires the Secretary of Energy to implement: (1) a program to support such technologies; and (2) a program to competitively award cash prices to advance the research, development, demonstration, and commercial application necessary to advance such technologies.Establishes the New Manhattan Project Commission on Energy Independence and sets forth its duties, including recommending to Congress steps to achieve 50% energy independence within 10 years and 100% energy independence within 20 years and assessing the impact of foreign energy dependence on national security.

Date: 2008-06-12
Topic: Energy (R&D)
Subject: Energy
Electricity Prize Act of 2008 - Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to carry out a competition to award a cash prize to the first participant that develops the ability to store multi-megawatt electricity for 30 consecutive days with less than a 10% decrease in the electricity stored.

Date: 2008-09-11
Topic: Energy (R&D)
Energy Research Act of 2007 - Establishes the Advanced Research Projects Administration - Energy (ARPA-E) to reduce foreign energy imports and to improve the competitiveness of the U.S. economy by: (1) promoting revolutionary changes in the critical technologies that would promote energy competitiveness; (2) turning cutting-edge science and engineering into technologies for energy and environmental application; and (3) accelerating innovation in energy and the environment for both traditional and alternative energy sources and in energy efficiency mechanisms to reduce energy use.Requires the ARPA-E Director to award competitive grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to institutions of higher education, companies, or consortia of such entities (which may include federally funded research and development centers).Requires the Director to implement such programs in a manner similar to the Small Business Innovation Research Program in order to ensure that small-business concerns are fully able to participate in the programs.Authorizes the Director to carry out a program to award cash prizes in recognition of outstanding achievements with potential application to the mission of ARPA-E.

Date: 2007-02-27
Topic: Energy (R&D)
Subject: Energy
National Carbon Dioxide Storage Capacity Assessment Act of 2007 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), acting through the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, to develop a methodology for conducting a national assessment of the geological storage capacity for carbon dioxide. Sets forth elements for the Secretary to consider in developing the methodology. Requires the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to cooperate with the Secretary to ensure the usefulness and success of the assessment. Requires the Secretary to: (1) provide the heads of stakeholder federal agencies, the heads of state land management agencies, industry stakeholders, and the public with an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed methodology; (2) convene a committee of subject matter experts to review the methodology for capacity and risk estimation; (3) publish a description of the final methodology and issue a public report that responds to the comments received and the methodology review; (4) complete a national assessment of geological storage capacity for carbon dioxide using the methodology; (5) establish a database on the Internet accessible to the public that provides the results of the assessment and includes the data necessary to rank potential storage sites for capacity and risk; and (6) report to Congress on the findings of the assessment.

Date: 2007-03-01
Topic: Energy (R&D)
Subject: Environmental protection
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer election to increase the tax credit for research expenditures by 20% for qualified energy research expenses incurred in 2009 or 2010. Defines "qualified energy research expenses" to include research expenses related to fuel cell and battery technology, renewable energy, energy conservation technology, electric transmission and distribution, and carbon capture and sequestration.

Date: 2009-05-14
Topic: Energy (R&D)
Subject: Taxation