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HR 6537 110th Congress House Public Lands and Natural Resources Administrative law and regulatory procedures Ecology Environmental assessment, monitoring, research Historic sites and heritage areas Licensing and registrations Marine and coastal resources, fisheries Parks, recreation areas, trails Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Sanctuary Enhancement Act of 2008

Introduced: July 17, 2008 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 24, 2008
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jul 21, 2008
Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans.
Jul 17, 2008
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Jul 17, 2008
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1491)
Jul 17, 2008
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Sanctuary Enhancement Act of 2008 - Amends the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to require that the National Marine Sanctuary System consist of national marine sanctuaries authorized or established by an Act of Congress (in addition to sanctuaries currently designated by the Secretary of Commerce) and marine national monuments. Sets forth the System's mission.

Requires the Secretary to prepare, maintain, and update an ecological classification of the nation's marine environment and an identification of maritime heritage resources as a national inventory of marine ecoregions and maritime heritage resources under U.S. jurisdiction.

Requires the Secretary to strive to include in the System, by 2030, sites that will incorporate a full range of the nation's marine ecoregions and rare and unique marine habitats, and a full range of maritime heritage resource areas.

Modifies various requirements regarding the designation and implementation of marine sanctuaries.

Expands the list of prohibited activities.

Amends provisions making a violation of a prohibited activity a criminal offense to: (1) exclude from those provisions foreign governments and their entities; and (2) add a requirement that a violation be knowing.

Increases the maximum term of imprisonment and the maximum civil fine.

Revises requirements regarding the preparation of fishing regulations applicable to a marine sanctuary.

Requires that System research and monitoring conducted, supported, or permitted by the Secretary be made available to the public unless the Secretary determines that public disclosure may result in the destruction of, loss of, or injury to any System resource.

Modifies requirements regarding special use permits.

What's happening now July 24, 2008

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1