Why It Matters: With Congress entering the final months of the 119th Congress, the legislative calendar is rapidly shrinking. While many bills will compete for limited floor time, several bipartisan fisheries priorities supported by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) remain well positioned for action before lawmakers adjourn. Whether improving angler access, addressing shark depredation, or advancing marine habitat conservation, the coming weeks will determine whether years of work translate into lasting policy victories. As always, CSF will continue working with congressional offices and coalition partners to maximize these opportunities.
Highlights
- The SHARKED Act is one Senate vote away from heading to the President after already passing the House.
- The MAPOceans Act has advanced unanimously at every step but still awaits House floor consideration.
- The Marine Fisheries Habitat Protection (Rigs-to-Reefs) Act remains a promising, though time-sensitive, opportunity that depends on resolving some remaining stakeholder differences.
As the 119th Congress enters its final stretch, competition for valuable floor time will intensify when Members return from the August recess for a brief September session before the “lame duck” period following the elections. From a fisheries policy perspective, several CSF-supported bills are well positioned to cross the finish line, while a handful of longer-shot priorities remain alive if opportunities arise during the closing months of the Congress.
As recently reported, one obvious candidate for easy final passage is the Supporting the Health of Aquatic Systems through Research, Knowledge, and Enhanced Dialogue (SHARKED) Act (H.R. 207/S. 2314). The legislation would establish a federal task force to develop recommendations for addressing the growing problem of sharks consuming fish before anglers can land them. The House passed its version of the bill earlier this Congress, while the Senate companion has cleared the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and now awaits floor consideration. Should the Senate take up the House-passed version after the August recess, only one additional vote would be required to send the bill to the President for signature.
Another bipartisan priority with perhaps the strongest opportunity for passage is the Modernizing Access to Public Oceans (MAPOceans) Act (H.R. 3340/S. 759). Modeled after the successful MAPWaters Act, the legislation would require NOAA to standardize and modernize digital mapping information to improve public access to marine waters. The Senate approved the bill late last year, and the House Committee on Natural Resources has favorably reported the legislation. Having advanced unanimously at every stage, the bill enjoys broad bipartisan support, making House floor consideration the final major hurdle before it can reach the President’s desk.
Several other CSF-supported fisheries bills remain in contention. Some bills, like reauthorizing the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, are tied to other vehicles that will likely see a continuing resolution into the next Congress (the Highway Bill in this case). However, one standalone deserves particular attention: The Marine Fisheries Habitat Protection Act (H.R. 5745), commonly referred to as the Rigs-to-Reefs bill, would represent one of the most significant marine habitat conservation measures enacted in decades. The legislation has been a top CSF priority and is strongly supported by Gulf of America anglers and recreational divers because it would expand opportunities to convert valuable existing habitat on offshore energy infrastructure into permanent artificial reefs.
Ironically, the bill’s greatest challenge is not partisan opposition but unresolved differences within the offshore energy industry over provisions intended to encourage reefing while ensuring operators fulfill their decommissioning obligations. If stakeholders, bill sponsors, and affected states can reach agreement on those remaining issues over the August recess, CSF remains cautiously optimistic the legislation could still advance before Congress adjourns. However, with only a limited legislative calendar remaining, the window for action is quickly closing.
The final days of the congressional session present not only challenges, but also opportunities. Bipartisan, conservation-related legislation has historically been positioned well for last-minute deals or packages, and CSF will be actively looking for those opportunities as we enter the home stretch of the 119th Congress.