from the desk of Representative Byron Donalds

Donalds Bipartisan Bill To Expedite Disaster Relief For Fisheries Signed Into Law By The President

WASHINGTON – On January 4, 2024, H.R. 5103 – “The Bipartisan Fishery Improvement to Streamline untimely regulatory Hurdles post Emergency Situation Act (FISHES) Act,” was signed into law by the President of the United States.

“The Bipartisan FISHES Act” is broadly supported, bipartisan legislation to improve the federal regulatory process associated with the allocation of fishery disaster relief. Specifically, this commonsense and solutions-oriented bill seeks to expedite the distribution of federal disaster relief following official fishery disaster declarations which the State of Florida has requested seven times since 2012.

H.R. 5103 is sponsored by Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) and passed both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate with votes of unanimous support. The legislation has received the support of 160 endorsing entities including 107 organizations, and fifty two members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) is the sponsor of “The Bipartisan FISHES Act” Senate companion bill.

“For years, fishery disaster determinations across our nation have been left pending due to bureaucratic inaction,” said Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL). “This includes the catastrophic devastation caused by Hurricane Ian to our Southwest Florida community. This is a national problem; this is wrong; this must change; and this is why I introduced ‘The FISHES Act’ alongside Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) to expedite fishery disaster relief to communities in need.

Thank you to my colleagues in Congress for advancing this critical legislation to the President’s desk and thank you to the President for signing this bill into law. Government must put the American people first and I am proud to stand up for coastal communities across our nation.”

Bill Support:
107 Supporting Organizations:
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission; Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission; Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission; American Sportfishing Association; Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; Bonefish and Tarpon Trust; Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation; FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; National Audubon Society; Captains for Clean Water; American Conservation Coalition Action; Angler Action Foundation; Marine Industries Association of SWFL and Tampa Bay; Gulf Shellfish Institute; Florida Guides Association; National Association of Charter boat Operators; Southern Offshore Fishing Association; Coastal Conservation Association; Center for Sportfishing Policy; The Nature Conservancy; International Game and Fish Association; Reef Life Foundation; Resource Development Council for Alaska; National Fisheries Institute; Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association; Boat U.S.; Fish is America; Panama City Boatman’s Association; Association of Marina Industries; Southeastern Fisheries Association; North Carolina Fisheries Association; Louisiana Shrimp Association; Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance; Southern Shrimp Alliance; South Carolina Shrimpers Association; Diving Equipment and Marketing Association; Pontchartrain Conservancy; Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association; Everglades Trust; Marine Retailers Association of the Americas; Organized Fishermen of Florida; North Florida Marine Association; Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County; Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership; Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast; Charter Fishermans Association; Destin Charter Boat Association; Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council; Florida Stone Crab Association; Fishing Communities Coalition; Gulf Fisherman’s Association; Florida Commercial Watermen’s Conservation; Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber; Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce; United States Shrimpers Coalition; United Fishermen of Alaska; Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association; Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance; Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association; Marine Industries Association of Florida; Golden State Salmon Association; Georgia Commercial Fisherman Association; National Marine Manufacturers Association; Audubon Florida; Ocean Conservancy; Conservancy of SWFL; Cypress Chapter Izaak Walton League of America; Bergeron Everglades Foundation; Oceana; Texas Shrimp Association; North Carolina Watermen United; Blue Water Fishermen’s Association; Alabama Commercial Fisherman Association; Wildlife Forever; Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation; Florida Retail Federation; FL Shore & Beach Preservation Association; Florida Ocean Alliance; The Billfish Foundation; Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association; Michigan Boating Industries Association; East Farm Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island; Maine Lobstermen’s Association; Mote Marine Laboratory; Cordova District Fishermen United; Midwater Trawlers Cooperative; National Marine Distributors Association; Restore America’s Estuaries; Seafood Harvesters of America; Purse Seine Vessel Owners Association; Mississippi Commercial Fisheries United; American Bird Conservancy; Pacific Seafood Processors Association; Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers; Virginia Watermans Association; New England Young Fishermen’s Alliance; New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association; Port Arthur Area Shrimpers’ Association; National Restaurant Association; Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.); Major League Fishing; American Shrimp Processers Association; Guy Harvey Foundation; Pacific Northwest Waterways Association; Oregon Trawl Commission; Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association; and North American Marine Alliance

48 Bipartisan House Cosponsors:
Representatives Peltola (D-AK), Bilirakis (R-FL), Moskowitz (D-FL), Dunn (R-FL), Carter (D-LA), Nehls (R-TX), Panetta (D-CA), Moylan (R-GU), Plaskett (D-VI), Rutherford (R-FL), Webster (R-FL), Luna (R-FL), Coleman-Radewagen (R-AS), Mast (R-FL), Higgins (R-LA), Franklin (R-FL), Grothman (R-WI), D’Esposito (R-NY), LaLota (R-NY), Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR), Weber (R-TX), Mace (R-SC), Davis (D-NC), Fry (R-SC), Carl (R-AL), Waltz (R-FL), Huffman (D-CA), Salazar (R-FL), Magaziner
(D-RI), Steube (R-FL), Harder (D-CA), Guthrie (R-KY), Carbajal (D-CA), Kean Jr. (R-NJ), Costa (D-CA), Lawler (R-NY), Phillips (D-MN), Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Posey (R-FL), Frankel (D-FL), Rouzer (R-NC), Mullin
(D-CA), Lee (R-FL), Gimenez (R-FL), Tenney (R-NY), Gonzalez (D-TX), and Kennedy (D-NY)

4 Senate Supporters:
Senate-lead Sen. Scott (R-FL); Senators Murkowski (R- AK), Rubio (R-FL), and Sullivan (R-AK)