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Inouye Coral Reef Conservation Bill Approved by Senate Commerce Committee
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Looking to stem the threats to our nation’s coral reefs, the Senate Commerce Committee today unanimously approved S. 1580, the Coral Reef Conservation Amendments Act of 2007, which reauthorizes and strengthens the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 and further improves research and management of our nation’s corals.
“The preservation of our coral reef ecosystems is vital to national interests, including the sustainability of our fisheries, tourism, and coastal communities,” said Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), the lead sponsor of the measure. “Coral reef related services and resources are worth billions of dollars each year to the U.S. economy and economies worldwide in the form of food, jobs, pharmaceuticals, and shoreline protection.”
Senator Inouye continued, “Effective management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems is especially critical for the State of Hawaii, which is host to more than 410,000 acres of living reef around the main islands alone.”
Cosponsored by Commerce Committee Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and supported by the Bush Administration, the Coral Reef Conservation Amendments Act would:
- Allow the Secretary to comprehensively address the threat of marine debris to coral reef ecosystems by removing abandoned fishing gear, other discarded objects, and abandoned vessels from coral reef ecosystems.
- Authorize the development of a vessel-grounding inventory and identify measures to reduce threats to coral reefs including the acquisition and placement of aids to navigation, moorings, and fixed anchors.
- Prohibit damage to coral reefs, while providing specific exemptions for activities such as bona fide research, the use of fishing gear permitted under Federal or state laws, and other activities authorized by Federal or state laws. Similar authority already exists for coral reefs and other natural resources within National Marine Sanctuaries, but no authority exists for coral reefs outside such boundaries.
- Extend and strengthen liability and civil and criminal penalties for damage to coral reefs resulting from prohibited activities.
- Provide a mechanism to recoup response costs and damages from responsible parties and apply such funds to restoration of coral reefs.
- Establish a permitting program for specific activities in coral reef areas including research and conservation projects.
- Improve coordination among states and territories to address threats to coral reefs.
- Establish an International Coral Reef Conservation Program to address threats to corals in waters outside U.S. jurisdiction of importance to the United States. The bill would authorize $5 million for FY 2008 and $10 million for each of FY 2009 through 2012 for this program.
- Authorize appropriations of $34 million for fiscal year (FY) 2008, $36 million for FY 2009, $38 million for FY 2010, and $40 million for each of FY 2011 and FY 2012. The bill would authorize a total of $8 million for FY 2008 and FY 2012 to remain available until expended, for community-based planning grants.
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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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