Washington, D.C. – This morning, Congressman John Tierney (D-MA) sent the following letter to Congressman Doc Hastings, the new Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources and Congressman John Fleming, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs urging them to continue necessary oversight and evaluation on issues relating to fisheries management. Citing the ongoing work to improve conditions for our fishing community, Tierney urged the new Republican Chairmen to increase the attention directed to the Department of Commerce’s troubling stance on fishing issues.
Dear Chairmen Hastings and Fleming:
Congratulations on your assumption of the chairmanship of the Committee on Natural Resources and Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs, respectively. I am mindful that this Committee, and more specifically this Subcommittee, have an obligation to conduct necessary oversight and evaluation on issues relating to fisheries management, among other areas.
Throughout the 111th Congress, as you may be aware, many Congressional leaders from both chambers, both parties and more than six states, have been working with the Department of Commerce to improve conditions for the fishing community. There have been several Congressional hearings on the matter (both through the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Domestic Policy and the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife) and numerous meetings, on the federal, state and local levels. Efforts have been made by Members to discuss how the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) implementation of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Public Law 109-479) has negatively affected fishing communities up and down the east coast.
Additionally, there have been numerous instances of Members working together on a bipartisan basis on legislation and investigations relating to the Department of Commerce, NOAA and our fishing communities.
The aforementioned actions, along with the Subcommittee on Domestic Policy’s efforts in the 111th Congress, have also led to multiple Inspector General (IG) reports. These reports have resulted in, among other things, the reassignment of several high ranking employees of OLE and legislation, which I introduced, on the restriction of the use of monies in NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) Asset Forfeiture Fund (AFF) in an effort to end clear misuse and mismanagement of the AFF. Although action was taken by NOAA to address personnel issues within OLE highlighted in the IG reports, concerns remain as to the appropriateness and thoroughness of NOAA’s review of OLE and whether or not the personnel action taken by NOAA is satisfactory in holding officials accountable. As such, I would urge you to consider holding hearings on this matter to determine if the appropriate and necessary action was taken regarding the reassignment of NOAA officials.
More recently, as you may be aware, the Secretary of the Department of Commerce made a startling decision to not issue emergency regulations to increase catch-share limits in spite of recent data provided to the Department which demonstrated the need for an emergency increase. I have pledged, along with several of my colleagues, to continue to explore all avenues to address this issue. To that end, I would respectfully ask for your help in reviewing, through hearings or other appropriate action, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Public Law P.L. 109-479) as it relates to the Secretary’s authority to issue emergency regulations revising catch limits to higher levels that remain consistent with conservation requirements.
With these thoughts in mind, I respectfully recommend, as you formulate your agenda for the Committee and Subcommittee during the 112th Congress, that you dedicate your attention to these important matters. I believe there is additional work to be done and more progress to be made in order to continue serving and protecting our fishing communities.
Sincerely,
John F. Tierney
Member of Congress