WASHINGTON — June 1, 2015 — House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement applauding House passage of the Strengthening Fishing Communities & Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act (H.R. 1335). The bill reauthorizes the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the federal law that governs America’s marine fisheries.
| “America’s seafood industry is one of the largest in the world and employs more than one million fishermen. The risk takers and entrepreneurs who sustain this industry don’t just put food on our tables, they support jobs and represent tens of billions of dollars in economic impact. Today’s vote to renew Magnuson-Stevens will mean increased flexibility for regional fishery councils — providing more stability for fishermen — and will help rebuild individual fisheries using science instead of arbitrary deadlines. This bill prioritizes collection of more data and helps stakeholders tailor their catch share limits based on the needs of specific marine fisheries. Together, these reforms give fishermen and all parties more of a stake in the process. I commend my colleague Rep. Don Young for his effort on these much-needed reforms and I urge their swift consideration in the Senate.” |