Washington, D.C. -Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and 11 committee Democrats used a procedural move to ensure a broad range of voices can be heard before fundamental changes are made to our fisheries management regime. Democrats pursued the move at a hearing on legislation that undermines protections that are critical to maintaining healthy marine ecosystems for fish and fishermen.
“Today’s hearing follows the pattern of others this Congress in failing to include a diversity of perspectives on fisheries management, even bringing back a number of individuals and organizations from whom we have already heard. The economic and conservation issues at stake in reauthorizing this statute are too significant to proceed in such a one-sided fashion," they write.
Democrats used Rule XI to force an alternative hearing on reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act that will focus on a broad range of issues that should be considered in the reauthorization process and include a balanced panel of stakeholders.
“In September, I personally asked the committee to work collaboratively on the reauthorization of this critical fisheries management legislation. That was ignored. In November, we asked for a hearing on Western Pacific fisheries issues. That was ignored. Then in December, without input or notice, the Republicans released legislation that will roll back many of the important reforms that protect fishing communities and prevent the depletion of fish stocks. I was serious about taking a realistic approach to Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization and a hearing with a variety of stakeholder input is just the first step. I look forward to having a real discussion on how we can improve existing law to protect our fisheries, allow them to flourish, and provide for our coastal communities," said DeFazio.
The Republican’s draft legislation would roll back many of the important reforms to the Magnuson-Stevens Act that have been achieved over the past 20 years and it would undermine critical protections that prevent the depletion of fish stocks. The title of the bill implies the goal is to provide greater “flexibility" in managing fisheries and rebuilding overfished stocks, but in this case, “flexibility" means a management regime that fails to serve the best interests of U.S. fishermen. The bill overrides essential conservation protections -such as NEPA and ESA-which are critical to maintaining healthy marine ecosystems and healthy coastal communities.
The full text of the letter is available below and online here.
February 4, 2014
Honorable Doc Hastings
Chairman
Natural Resources Committee
United States House of Representatives
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
We are troubled by the failure of Committee Republicans to seek input from - or otherwise include - Democratic Members in the development of the draft Magnuson-Stevens Act legislation before the Committee today. At an oversight hearing last September, our Ranking Member personally requested that you work collaboratively with him to craft legislation reauthorizing this important law. In November, a number of Committee Democrats wrote to you requesting a hearing on Western Pacific fisheries issues, which were not addressed in any of the oversight hearings called by the Majority last year. The Majority did not consider either of these requests, and instead has proposed legislation that many of us see as a step away from responsible fishery management and stewardship of other important marine resources. Today’s hearing follows the pattern of others this Congress in failing to include a diversity of perspectives on fisheries management, even bringing back a number of individuals and organizations from whom we have already heard. The economic and conservation issues at stake in reauthorizing this statute are too significant to proceed in such a one-sided fashion.
Fisheries management and the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act have not been partisan issues traditionally, and we are disappointed that they seem to have become just that in this Committee. In order to provide more balanced and factual information regarding the current state of fisheries management in the United States, pursuant to Rule XI of the Rules of the House and Rule 4 of the Rules of the Committee on Natural Resources, the undersigned Members of the Committee hereby request a further hearing on reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, during which witnesses selected by the Minority shall be allowed to testify.
Sincerely,
Peter DeFazio
Ranking Member
Raul M. Grijalva
Rush Holt
Alan Lowenthal
Grace F. Napolitano
Carol Shea-Porter
Madeleine Z. Bordallo
Jared Huffman
Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan
Colleen W. Hanabusa
Joe Garcia
