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Press Releases |
For Immediate Release
04/24/08
Contact: |
Rob Blumenthal w/Inouye 202-224-8374
Joe Brenckle - Republican Press Office 202-224-3991
Brian Eaton w/Stevens 202-224-0445
Jenilee Keefe w/Inouye 202-224-7824
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Inouye and Stevens Introduce Measure to Help Prevent Illegal Seafood from Entering U.S.
Bill Would Close Gaps in Law that Still Allow IUU Fish Products to Be Sold in U.S. |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), today introduced legislation to close the gaps in United States law that currently allow illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fish products to enter the country. The International Fisheries Stewardship and Enforcement Act of 2008 would strengthen United States’ fisheries law enforcement programs and would assist developing countries with fisheries monitoring and enforcement.
“The problems of IUU fishing, coupled with global overfishing in general, have had a significant impact on our marine environment and on our economy,” said Senator Inouye. “Marine science tells us that many fish stocks know no boundaries, and in fact traverse across national maritime borders and into the high seas. We therefore need responsible, cooperative, balanced and enforceable international conservation and management agreements for fisheries. This measure will help ensure a sustainable supply of fish both within our Exclusive Economic Zone and on the high seas.”
“We must send a strong message to the world that fish products harvested through IUU fishing are not welcome in the United States,” said Senator Stevens. “This measure will strengthen our ability to enforce fisheries laws and help other nations do the same. IUU fishing steals billions every year from those fishermen who obey the law. The U.S. and other nations that rely on sustainable fisheries for jobs and food must take a stand and say ‘no more’ to these fish pirates.”
IUU fishing accounts for nearly $9 billion annually. Currently, the United States has a limited patchwork of law enforcement provisions created through individual statutes that implement international fisheries agreements. The Inouye-Stevens bill introduced today would combat IUU fishing by consolidating those powers, increasing the fines and penalties for civil and criminal violations, clarifying the prosecutorial system, and harmonizing all related statutes.
This bill would have the following key provisions:
- Strengthens and harmonizes U.S. fisheries law enforcement authority in IFSEA and makes all regional fishery management organization (RFMO) implementing legislation consistent with IFSEA;
- Strengthens civil and criminal penalties;
- Makes the IUU vessel list permanent and allows the Secretary of Treasury to deny port access to IUU fishing vessels;
- Creates an interagency “International Fisheries Enforcement Program” that extends law enforcement authorities across Federal agencies and authorizes better coordination and resource sharing in investigations; and
- Creates an “International Cooperation and Assistance Program” to authorize assistance to developing countries on fisheries monitoring and enforcement.
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18th - |
Senator Hutchison Calls for Improved Bus Safety Standards
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today called for improved safety of over-the-road buses and enhanced National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations governing bus safety during a Senate Surface Transportation Subco...
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18th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for DTV Transition Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces the witnesses for the Full Committee hearing on Oversight of the DTV Transition: Countdown to February 2009, scheduled for Tuesday, September 23, 2008, at 2:30 p.m. The full witness list is below.
With February 17, 2009 less than five months away, the Committee will assess the Federal Communication...
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18th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for U.S.-Korea Automobile Trade Imbalance Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces the witnesses for the upcoming Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism Subcommittee hearing on The Imbalance in U.S.-Korea Automobile Trade, scheduled for September 24, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. A full witness list is below.
The hearing will examine the reasons for the imbalance in U.S.-Korea bilateral ...
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17th - |
Commerce Committee to Examine Consumer Privacy Issues Related to Broadband Service Providers
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a Full Committee hearing on Broadband Providers and Consumer Privacy, scheduled for Thursday, September 25, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.
The Committee will examine broadband provider practices with respect to consumer privacy.
Broadband Providers and Consumer PrivacyFull CommitteeDate: Thursday, Septemb...
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16th - |
Senator Hutchison Commends Dept. of Commerce for Helping Nursing Homes with DTV Converter Box Program
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) today commended the U.S. Department of Commerce and Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez for allowing residents with post office boxes and those living in nursing homes to participate in the digital television (DTV) converter box coupon program. Previously, only residents with physical addresses could participate. This meant that those who ...
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16th - |
Inouye Calls for Immediate Passage of S.1492, the Broadband Data Improvement Act
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) delivered the following statement at today’s hearing on why broadband matters.
“In our hearing today we explore why broadband matters. Broadband matters because broadband communications have become the great economic engine of our time. Broadband deployment drives opportunities for business, education, ...
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16th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for Bus Safety Hearing
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12th - |
Commerce Committee to Hear Testimony from Corporation for Public Broadcasting Nominees
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12th - |
Commerce Committee to Review Progress of DTV Transition with FCC, NTIA
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12th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for Hearing on Consumer Benefits of Broadband
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11th - |
Commerce Committee Releases MARAD Bill Financial Disclosure Certification
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today filed its report on S. 2997, the Maritime Administration Act for Fiscal Year 2009. In accordance with Senate Rule XLIV, the Committee provides the attached financial disclosure certification.
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11th - |
Commerce Committee Cancels Hearing to Examine Marine Protected Areas
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10th - |
Senator Hutchison Cosponsors Calling Card Legislation to Help Consumers
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today signed on as a cosponsor to legislation that would assist consumers with pre-paid calling cards and ensure that fees and terms are easier to understand. The bill, S. 2998, would require pre-paid calling card providers and distributors to disclose the numbe...
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9th - |
Commerce Committee to Hold Hearing on Consumer Benefits of Broadband
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8th - |
Commerce Committee to Examine Marine Protected Areas
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8th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for Prepaid Calling Card Hearing
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