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H.R. 1240 — what changed

Young Fishermen's Development Act

From Introduced in House to Reported in House. 5 sections amended and 1 removed between Introduced in House and Reported in House.

Section 1 Short title

changed This Act may be cited as the “Young Fishermen’s Fishermen's Development Act of 2019”.Act”.

Sec. 2 Definitions

added In this Act:

(a)
removed Findings— Congress finds that—
(1)
removed the average age of commercial fishermen continues to increase due to fewer new entrants replacing retiring fishermen;
(2)
removed there are fewer young or beginning fishermen entering the commercial fisheries for many reasons, including the lack of training, fewer entry level opportunities, lack of capital, and other barriers to entry;
(3)
removed without well-trained young or beginning fishermen to replace those retiring, fishing businesses and vessels will be lost and fishing communities will suffer;
(4)
removed for food security and economic reasons, it is in the United States national interest to sustainably harvest United States fishery resources;
(5)
removed United States farmers and ranchers faced similar difficulties and Congress responded by enacting the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program administered by the Department of Agriculture;
(6)
removed the Young Fishermen’s Development Grant Program established by this Act is modeled after the successful Department of Agriculture program; and
(7)
removed the training, education, and outreach provided for in the Young Fishermen’s Development Grant Program established by this Act will ensure there is a next generation of commercial fishermen and businesses to harvest the United States rich fishery resources and support our coastal communities.
(1)
changed Purposes—Sea grant institution— The purposes term Sea Grant Institution means a sea grant college or sea grant institute, as those terms are defined in section 203 of this the National Sea Grant College Program Act are—(33 U.S.C. 1122).
(2)
added Tribal organization— The term Tribal organization has the meaning given the term “tribal organization” in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(3)
added Young fisherman— The term young fisherman means an individual who—
(A)
added desires to participate in the commercial fisheries of the United States, including the Great Lakes fisheries;
(B)
added has worked as a captain, crew member, or deckhand on a commercial fishing vessel for not more than 10 years of cumulative service;
(C)
added is a beginning commercial fisherman; or
(D)
added is less than 35 years of age.
(1)
removed to establish a national grant program to support the training and education of the United States next generation of commercial fishermen; and
(2)
removed to engage partnerships and collaborations led by or including nongovernmental, community-based fishing organizations, and school-based fisheries, including Sea Grant Institutions, or marine educational organizations with expertise in new fisheries training and outreach, to provide the education and training.

Sec. 3 Establishment of program

changed In The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the National Sea Grant Office, shall establish a program to provide training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for young fishermen, to be known as the “Young Fishermen’s Development Grant Program” (referred to in this Act—section as the “Program”).

(1)
removed the term “young fishermen” means an individual who—
(A)
removed
(i)
removed desires to participate in the commercial fisheries of the United States, including the Great Lakes fisheries;
(ii)
removed has worked as a captain, crew member, deckhand, or other at-sea position on a commercial fishing vessel for not more than 10 years of cumulative service;
(iii)
removed is a beginning commercial fisherman; or
(iv)
removed meets such other criteria as the Secretary of Commerce may establish; and
(B)
removed is less than 35 years of age; and
(2)
removed the term “Sea Grant Institution” means a sea grant college or sea grant institute, as those terms are defined in section 203 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1122).

Sec. 4 Grants

(a)
added In general— In carrying out the Program, the Secretary shall make competitive grants to support new and established local and regional training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for young fishermen, including programs, workshops, and services relating to—
(1)
added seamanship, navigation, electronics, and safety;
(2)
added vessel and engine care, maintenance, and repair;
(3)
added innovative conservation fishing gear engineering and technology;
(4)
added sustainable fishing practices;
(5)
added entrepreneurship and good business practices;
(6)
added direct marketing, supply chain, and traceability;
(7)
added financial and risk management, including vessel, permit, and quota purchasing;
(8)
added State and Federal legal requirements for specific fisheries, including reporting, monitoring, licenses, and regulations;
(9)
added State and Federal fisheries policy and management;
(10)
added mentoring, apprenticeships, or internships; and
(11)
added any other activities, opportunities, or programs, as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(b)
added Eligibility—
(1)
added Applicants— To be eligible to receive a grant under the Program, a recipient shall be a collaborative State, Tribal, local, or regionally based network or partnership of public or private entities, which may include—
(A)
added a Sea Grant Institution;
(B)
added a Federal or State agency or a Tribal organization;
(C)
added a community-based nongovernmental organization;
(D)
added fishermen’s cooperatives or associations;
(E)
added an institution of higher education (including an institution awarding an associate’s degree), or a foundation maintained by an institution of higher education; or
(F)
added any other appropriate entity, as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(2)
added Participants— All young fishermen seeking to participate in the commercial fisheries of the United States and the Great Lakes are eligible to participate in the activities funded through grants provided for in this section, except that participants in such activities shall be selected by each grant recipient.
(c)
added Maximum term and amount of grant—
(1)
added In general— A grant under this section shall—
(A)
added have a term of no more than 3 fiscal years; and
(B)
added be in an amount that is not more than $200,000 for each fiscal year.
(2)
added Consecutive grants— An eligible recipient may receive consecutive grants under this section.
(d)
added Matching requirement— To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a recipient shall provide a match in the form of cash or in-kind contributions from the recipient in the amount equal to or greater than 25 percent of the funds provided by the grant.
(e)
added Regional balance— In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure geographic diversity.
(f)
added Cooperation and evaluation criteria— In carrying out this section and in developing criteria for evaluating grant applications, the Secretary shall consult, to the maximum extent practicable, with—
(1)
added Sea Grant Institutions and extension agents of such institutions;
(2)
added community-based nongovernmental fishing organizations;
(3)
added Federal and State agencies, including Regional Fishery Management Councils established under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1851 et seq.);
(4)
added institutions of higher education with fisheries expertise and programs; and
(5)
added partners, as the Secretary determines.
(g)
added Prohibition— A grant under this section may not be used to purchase any fishing license, permit, quota, or other harvesting right.

removed The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the National Sea Grant Office, shall establish a Young Fishermen’s Development Grant Program to provide training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for young fishermen.

Sec. 5 Funding

added Of the amount made available to the Secretary of Commerce under section 311(e) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1861(e)) for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025, the Secretary shall use $2,000,000 to carry out section 4 of this Act.

(a)
removed In general— In carrying out this Act, the Secretary shall make competitive grants to support new and established local and regional training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for young fishermen, including programs, workshops, and services relating to—
(1)
removed seamanship, navigation, electronics, and safety;
(2)
removed vessel and engine care, maintenance, and repair;
(3)
removed innovative conservation fishing gear engineering and technology;
(4)
removed sustainable fishing practices;
(5)
removed entrepreneurship and good business practices;
(6)
removed direct marketing, supply chain, and traceability;
(7)
removed financial and risk management, including vessel, permit, and quota purchasing;
(8)
removed State and Federal legal requirements for specific fisheries, including reporting, monitoring, licenses, and regulations;
(9)
removed State and Federal fisheries policy and management;
(10)
removed mentoring, apprenticeships, or internships; and
(11)
removed any other activities, opportunities, or programs as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(b)
removed Eligibility—
(1)
removed Applicants— To be eligible to receive a grant under this Act, the recipient must be a collaborative State, Tribal, local, or regionally based network or partnership of public or private entities, which may include—
(A)
removed a Sea Grant Institution;
(B)
removed a Federal, State, or Tribal agency;
(C)
removed a community-based or non­go­vern­ment­al organization;
(D)
removed fishermen’s cooperatives or associations, including permit banks and trusts;
(E)
removed Alaska Native corporations;
(F)
removed a college or university (including an institution awarding an associate’s degree), or a foundation maintained by a college or university; or
(G)
removed any other appropriate entity as determined by the Secretary.
(2)
removed Participants— All young fishermen seeking to participate in the commercial fisheries of the United States and the Great Lakes are eligible to participate in the activities funded through grants provided for in this section, except that participants in such activities shall be selected by each grant recipient.
(c)
removed Maximum term and amount of grant—
(1)
removed In general— A grant under this section shall—
(A)
removed have a term of no more than 3 fiscal years; and
(B)
removed be in an amount that is not more than $200,000 for each fiscal year.
(2)
removed Consecutive grants— An eligible recipient may receive consecutive grants under this section.
(d)
removed Matching requirement— To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a recipient shall provide a match in the form of cash or in-kind contributions in the amount equal to or greater than 25 percent of the funds provided by the grant.
(e)
removed Regional balance— In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure geographic diversity.
(f)
removed Priority— In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to partnerships and collaborations that are led by or include nongovernmental fishing community-based organizations and school-based fisheries educational organizations with expertise in fisheries and sustainable fishing training and outreach.
(g)
removed Cooperation and evaluation criteria— In carrying out this section and especially in developing criteria for evaluating grant applications, the Secretary shall cooperate, to the maximum extent practicable, with—
(1)
removed Sea Grant Institutions and extension agents of such institutions;
(2)
removed community-based and nongovernmental fishing organizations;
(3)
removed Federal and State agencies, including Regional Fishery Management Councils established under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1851 et seq.);
(4)
removed colleges and universities with fisheries expertise and programs; and
(5)
removed other appropriate partners as determined by the Secretary.
(h)
removed Prohibition— A grant under this section may not be used to purchase any fishing license, permit, quota, or other harvesting right.

Sec. 6 Funding

removed
(a)
removed In general— Of the amount made available to the Secretary of Commerce under section 311(e) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1861(e)) for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024, the Secretary shall use $2,000,000 to carry out section 5 of this Act.
(b)
removed Proportional allocation— The amount obligated under this section each fiscal year for activities in each fishery management region shall be in the same proportion as the portion of the total amount obligated under this section for that fiscal year that was collected in that region.