Why It Matters: While the 118th Congress has found it challenging to reach agreements and pass bills, there are a few pieces of legislation making their way through the process that are strongly bipartisan and stand a higher-than-average likelihood of becoming law before this Congress adjourns later this year. Among those are two Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) supported bills that were heard last Thursday in the Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee.
Highlights:
- The Youth Coastal Fishing Program Act (H.R. 3925) will provide a new program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to introduce kids in coastal areas to the joys of saltwater fishing.
- The Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act (H.R. 897) would protect a recently discovered submerged cypress forest while ensuring the public can enjoy and connect with the resource through recreational fishing and diving.
On January 18, the House Committee on Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries held a hearing on two bills strongly supported by CSF – the Youth Coastal Fishing Program Act (H.R. 3925) and the Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act (H.R. 897).
NOAA is the only federal land or water management agency that does not have a dedicated recreational program to introduce the public to the outdoors. H.R. 3925 would direct NOAA to establish such a program through providing grants to non-profits organizations that have the capacity and ability to take kids fishing, connecting them to our marine resources while teaching them about conservation. This bipartisan and bicameral bill is sponsored by Representatives Maria Elvira Salazar and Sydney Kamlager-Dove in the House and Senators Roger Wicker and Maria Cantwell in the Senate.
H.R. 897 seeks to establish a marine protected area around a recently discovered treasure off the Alabama coastline. Shifting sands following major hurricanes have uncovered an ancient cypress forest dating back 70,000 years. This highly unique habitat provides not only opportunities to research our biological and geological past, but also offers exceptional diving opportunities and a recreational fishing destination unlike anywhere else in the world. Representative Jerry Carl’s bill will protect this resource from any extractive activities while ensuring the public can experience and enjoy this national treasure.
Prior to the hearing, CSF submitted a Statement for the Record in support of both bills. We look forward to working with the bill’s sponsors to see these two bills signed into law during the 118th Congress.
