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From the Desk of
Representative Byron Donalds

Donalds Bipartisan Bill To Expedite Disaster Relief For Fisheries Signed
Into Law By The President
by Congressman Byron Donalds
WASHINGTON – On January 4, Association; BoatU.S.; Fish is America; Panama City Boatman’s Association; Association of
2024, H.R. 5103 – "The Bipartisan Fishery Marina Industries; Southeastern Fisheries Association; North Carolina Fisheries Association;
Louisiana Shrimp Association; Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance; Southern
Improvement to Streamline untimely
Shrimp Alliance; South Carolina Shrimpers Association; Diving Equipment and Marketing
regulatory Hurdles post Emergency Situation Association; Pontchartrain Conservancy; Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association;
Act (FISHES) Act," was signed into law by Everglades Trust; Marine Retailers Association of the Americas; Organized Fishermen of
the President of the United States. Florida; North Florida Marine Association; Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach
"The Bipartisan FISHES Act" is broadly- County; Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership; Marine Industries Association of the
Treasure Coast; Charter Fishermans Association; Destin Charter Boat Association; Small
supported, bipartisan legislation to improve the
Business & Entrepreneurship Council; Florida Stone Crab Association; Fishing Communities
federal regulatory process associated with the
Coalition; Gulf Fisherman’s Association; Florida Commercial Watermen’s Conservation;
allocation of fishery disaster relief. Specifically, this Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber; Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce; United States
commonsense and solutions-oriented bill seeks to expedite the distribution of Shrimpers Coalition; United Fishermen of Alaska; Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association;
federal disaster relief following official fishery disaster declarations which the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance; Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association;
Marine Industries Association of Florida; Golden State Salmon Association; Georgia
State of Florida has requested seven times since 2012.
Commercial Fisherman Association; National Marine Manufacturers Association; Audubon
H.R. 5103 is sponsored by Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) and Florida; Ocean Conservancy; Conservancy of SWFL; Cypress Chapter Izaak Walton League
passed both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate with votes of of America; Bergeron Everglades Foundation; Oceana; Texas Shrimp Association; North
unanimous support. The legislation has received the support of 160 endorsing Carolina Watermen United; Blue Water Fishermen’s Association; Alabama Commercial
entities including 107 organizations, and fifty two members of the U.S. House Fisherman Association; Wildlife Forever; Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation; Florida
Retail Federation; FL Shore & Beach Preservation Association; Florida Ocean Alliance;
of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) is the
The Billfish Foundation; Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association; Michigan
sponsor of "The Bipartisan FISHES Act" Senate companion bill.
Boating Industries Association; East Farm Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island;
“For years, fishery disaster determinations across our nation have been Maine Lobstermen’s Association; Mote Marine Laboratory; Cordova District Fishermen
left pending due to bureaucratic inaction,” said Congressman Byron Donalds United; Midwater Trawlers Cooperative; National Marine Distributors Association; Restore
(R-FL). “This includes the catastrophic devastation caused by Hurricane Ian America’s Estuaries; Seafood Harvesters of America; Purse Seine Vessel Owners Association;
Mississippi Commercial Fisheries United; American Bird Conservancy; Pacific Seafood
to our Southwest Florida community. This is a national problem; this is wrong;
Processors Association; Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers; Virginia Watermans Association;
this must change; and this is why I introduced ‘The FISHES Act’ alongside
New England Young Fishermen’s Alliance; New England Fishermen’s Stewardship
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) to expedite fishery disaster relief to communities Association; Port Arthur Area Shrimpers’ Association; National Restaurant Association;
in need. Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.); Major League Fishing; American Shrimp
Thank you to my colleagues in Congress for advancing this critical Processers Association; Guy Harvey Foundation; Pacific Northwest Waterways Association;
legislation to the President’s desk and thank you to the President for signing Oregon Trawl Commission; Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association; and
North American Marine Alliance
this bill into law. Government must put the American people first and I am
48 Bipartisan House Cosponsors:
proud to stand up for coastal communities across our nation.” Representatives Peltola (D-AK), Bilirakis (R-FL), Moskowitz (D-FL),
Bill Support: Dunn (R-FL), Carter (D-LA), Nehls (R-TX), Panetta (D-CA), Moylan (R-GU),
107 Supporting Organizations: Plaskett (D-VI), Rutherford (R-FL), Webster (R-FL), Luna (R-FL),
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission; Gulf States Marine Fisheries Coleman-Radewagen (R-AS), Mast (R-FL), Higgins (R-LA), Franklin (R-FL),
Commission; Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission; American Sportfishing Grothman (R-WI), D’Esposito (R-NY), LaLota (R-NY), Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR),
Association; Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; Bonefish and Tarpon Trust; Weber (R-TX), Mace (R-SC), Davis (D-NC), Fry (R-SC), Carl (R-AL), Waltz (R-FL),
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation; FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Huffman (D-CA), Salazar (R-FL), Magaziner (D-RI), Steube (R-FL), Harder (D-CA),
Commission; National Audubon Society; Captains for Clean Water; American Guthrie (R-KY), Carbajal (D-CA), Kean Jr. (R-NJ), Costa (D-CA), Lawler (R-NY),
Conservation Coalition Action; Angler Action Foundation; Marine Industries Association Phillips (D-MN), Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Posey (R-FL),
of SWFL and Tampa Bay; Gulf Shellfish Institute; Florida Guides Association; National Frankel (D-FL), Rouzer (R-NC), Mullin (D-CA), Lee (R-FL), Gimenez (R-FL),
Association of Charterboat Operators; Southern Offshore Fishing Association; Coastal Tenney (R-NY), Gonzalez (D-TX), and Kennedy (D-NY)
Conservation Association; Center for Sportfishing Policy; The Nature Conservancy; 4 Senate Supporters:
International Game and Fish Association; Reef Life Foundation; Resource Development Senate-lead Sen. Scott (R-FL); Senators Murkowski (R- AK), Rubio (R-FL), and
Council for Alaska; National Fisheries Institute; Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Sullivan (R-AK)
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