Washington, DC – March 19, 2012 – Representative Frank Guinta (R, NH-01) is joining with Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Barney Frank to introduce legislation that supports the long-term future of New Hampshire’s fishing industry.
H.R. 4208, The Fisheries Investment and Regulatory Relief Act, was introduced in the House of Representatives on Monday evening. Rep. Frank is the lead Democratic sponsor; Rep. Guinta is the lead Republican sponsor. Bipartisan companion legislation was introduced in the Senate last week. It is sponsored by Senators Kerry, Scott Brown, Snowe, Rockefeller and Whitehouse. It would remedy a growing problem that has been siphoning important funding from efforts to support New England’s struggling fishing industry.
The Saltonstall-Kennedy Act of 1954 imposed a special duty on fish and fish products imported into the U.S. The law requires 30 percent of that money be spent supporting fisheries, research and development projects and other efforts to give long-term stability to New England’s fishing industry. However, a disturbing trend has developed in recent years; those funds have been diverted into the operating budget of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The problem has grown so bad, that of the $113 million of duties collected for this purpose in 2010, more than $104 million was redirected to NOAA’s operating fund. That left only $8 million allocated for the intended purpose.
“That’s hurting the very people the original law was designed to help,” Rep. Guinta said. “Instead of funding fisheries and other research and development projects to protect this historic industry, it was spent propping up NOAA’s bureaucratic administrative costs. That’s wrong, and it must stop. Our fishing industry is struggling, and the Fisheries Investment and Regulatory Relief Act can do a lot to protect fishing jobs.”
The Fisheries Investment and Regulatory Relief Act would require the full 30 percent of duties collected under the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act go to fisheries and research and development projects as required by existing law.
“This bill shows Democrats and Republicans are capable of working together for the common good,” Guinta said. “Our fishermen have never faced more challenges than they do today with government over-regulation, skyrocketing fuel and insurance costs, and competition from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. By setting aside partisan differences and working together, Members in both the House and Senate are showing we care about the needs of our beleaguered fishing industry.”
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources for consideration. Guinta says he will continue working with his colleagues from both sides of the aisle to secure passage for this important piece of legislation.
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