Ensuring Access to Fisheries Act
Latest action. Held at the desk.
Ensuring Access to Fisheries Act
TITLE I--NORTH PACIFIC FISHERIES
Subtitle A--North Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act
North Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act
(Sec. 103) This bill authorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to promulgate regulations to implement U.S. participation in the North Pacific Fisheries Convention. The convention is designed to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of fishery resources and marine ecosystems in the North Pacific Ocean.
The United States must be represented by five commissioners on the North Pacific Fisheries Commission.
In addition, a permanent advisory committee is established, which shall be comprised of 11 members. Advisory committee members shall represent groups concerned with fishery resources covered by the North Pacific Fisheries Convention.
(Sec. 104) The Department of State has the authority to receive and transmit various communications concerning the commission.
(Sec. 105) The bill details NOAA's authority in implementing this bill and measures adopted by the commission.
(Sec. 106) NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard are required to administer and enforce this bill.
(Sec. 107) This bill lists 15 fishing and shipping activities that are prohibited in the North Pacific Ocean.
(Sec. 108) NOAA may cooperate with public and private institutions in the United States and abroad to carry out this bill. Federal agencies are authorized to cooperate with NOAA in conducting research and providing facilities and personnel to assist the commission.
(Sec. 109) The State Department must ensure the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands participates in the commission in the same manner as territories of other nations.
(Sec. 110) Operators of commercial fishing vessels that do not carry vessel monitoring systems capable of communicating with U.S. enforcement authorities must:
notify the U.S. Coast Guard prior to or within a reasonable time after entering the exclusive economic zone of the convention area;
ensure that all fishing gear is stowed below deck and not readily available for fishing; and
if requested, proceed to a specified location so that a vessel inspection can be conducted.
The summary continues for 28 more paragraphs. Read it in full on Congress.gov
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Passed Senate amended" stage on May 17, 2016. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Held at the desk.
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The record's latest action, on May 18, 2016: Held at the desk.
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In the 114th Congress (2015-16), 329 of the 10,233 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 3.2 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one has no outstanding steps listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced it on May 13, 2015, and 1 member has since signed on as a cosponsor.
They are 1 Democrat.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on May 13, 2015, 4138 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 3767 days ago, on May 18, 2016.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 114th Congress has not finished by January 3, 2017 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
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Vote history
- SenateHeld at the desk.
- HouseNot stated in the latest action
- PresidentNot stated in the latest action