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