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For Immediate Release
06/08/05
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Chairman Stevens Introduces
National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2005
Amendment Offered to Allow Coastal States to Opt Out |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senate Commerce Committee Co-Chairmen Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) today introduced S. 1195, the National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2005. The Bush Administration developed the Act to provide the regulatory framework for the development of aquaculture in the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2005 responds to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy’s recommendations for NOAA to develop a comprehensive, environmentally sound permitting and regulatory program for offshore aquaculture, and fulfills the Administration’s commitment, in the U.S. Ocean Action Plan, to propose national offshore aquaculture legislation in the 109th Congress. It is expected the National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2005 will be referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, where the Chairman and Co-Chairman of the Committee will be able to work out the particulars of the final bill.
Along with the bill, Senator Stevens introduced an amendment to allow coastal states to decide whether or not they want offshore aquaculture in the EEZ off that state’s coastline. “This option allows states like Alaska and Hawaii to decide for themselves whether this law and offshore aquaculture are best for their citizens and economies,” said Stevens. “But, on the other hand, there is a great increase in demand for fish farming in the ocean areas and we should have a national recognition of that so it can proceed and have federal funding.”
Senator Stevens co-sponsored Senator Inouye’s amendments to provide environmental safeguards for wild fish stocks and to strike language that would have allowed foreign governments to operate offshore aquaculture facilities. Additionally, Stevens and Inouye co-sponsored Senator Olympia Snowe’s (R-Maine) amendment to strike the Jones Act waiver for vessels supporting offshore aquaculture facilities contained in the Administration’s bill.
“Because we have only had the bill for a short time, we have not had the opportunity to thoroughly analyze the bill and speak to Alaskans about its impacts. It is possible that there will be other concerns that we will need to address as this bill moves through the Senate,” said Stevens.
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24th - |
Senate Approves Junk Fax Prevention Bill
- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved the Junk Fax Prevention Act of 2005 (S. 714). The bill, which was originally introduced by Senator Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), included an amendment by Smith and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) to further clarify when legitimate businesses may send faxes to recipients with whom they have an established business relationship.
Co-spon...
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23rd - |
Senate Commerce Committee Approves
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Act of 2005
- WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today approved S. 1281, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Act of 2005 by a unanimous vote. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.), Chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science and Space, introduced the legislation, which was co-sponsored by the subcommittee’s Ranking Member Bil...
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23rd - |
Senate Commerce Committee Approves the
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2005
- WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today unanimously approved S. 1280, Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2005. Fisheries and Coast Guard Subcommittee Chair, Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) introduced the bill on June 21, 2005. Co-sponsors of the bill include Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Co-Chairman Dan Inouye (D-Hawaii), and Rank...
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23rd - |
SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE PASSES SNOWE’S COAST GUARD REAUTHORIZATION BILL
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME), Chair of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Fisheries and Coast Guard, is pleased that the Commerce Committee today passed her Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2005 (S. 1280) to modernize the Coast Guard to meet the both its traditional and new homeland security missions. Snowe’s legislation awaits action by the full Senate.
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23rd - |
Senate Commerce Committee Approves Six Nominees at Markup
- WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today reported out the following six nominations by voice vote. These nominations, with the exception of Mr. Kip Hawley, will now be reported to the full Senate for confirmation. Mr. Hawley’s nomination will be referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs for a period of no mo...
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21st - |
Sen. Hutchison Introduces NASA Authorization Bill
- WASHINGTON – Later today, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science and Space, will file the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Act of 2005. The legislation authorizes NASA for Fiscal Years 2006 through 2010, provides a legislative framework for a national space exploration policy, requires completion of the International Space St...
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9th - |
Stevens Introduces Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund Maintenance Act
- Today, Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation introduced the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund Maintenance Act of 2005. The Act will reinstate the 5 cents per barrel tax under the Oil Pollution Act to fund the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSTLF) at $3 billion. Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Co-Chairman of the Commerce Committee j...
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9th - |
Christine Kurth Withdraws Name for Consideration to be an FCC Commissioner
- Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) has confirmed that Christine Kurth, Deputy Staff Director of the Senate Commerce Committee, has withdrawn herself from consideration for nomination to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
After extensive discussions with the Administration, Kurth chose to withdraw her name from consideration because of the strict interpretation o...
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8th - |
current Press Release |
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Audio Clip | Video Clip
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