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H.R. 1979 116th Congress House

Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act

Official title: To improve the management of driftnet fishing.

Introduced: March 28, 2019 Introduced by: Ted Lieu Democratic · California See on congress.gov
Public Lands and Natural Resources Animal protection and human-animal relationshipsFishesHunting and fishingMarine and coastal resources, fisheries
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 8, 2019
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Apr 18, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
Mar 28, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Mar 28, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Latest action May 8, 2019

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act

This bill addresses certain driftnet fishing. (Driftnet fishing is a method of fishing in which a gillnet composed of a panel or panels of webbing, or a series of such gillnets, is placed in the water and allowed to drift with the currents and winds for the purpose of entangling fish in the webbing.)

Currently, the use of large-scale drift gillnets with a total length of 2.5 kilometers or more is prohibited in the United States. The bill expands the definition of large-scale driftnet fishing to prohibit the use of gillnets with a mesh size of 14 inches or greater. This expanded prohibition does not apply within the U.S. exclusive economic zone for five years.

The Department of Commerce must conduct a transition program to facilitate the phase out of large-scale driftnet fishing and to promote the adoption of alternative fishing practices that minimize the incidental catch of living marine resources.

Commerce must award grants to program participants.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 906 Identical bill Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 12
All 12 Democratic 6 Republican 5
R
Buchanan, Vern
Florida · Dec 8, 2020
 D
Larsen, Rick
Washington · Dec 7, 2020
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Dec 7, 2020
 D
Thompson, Mike
California · Dec 2, 2020
 R
Griffith, H. Morgan
Virginia · Nov 17, 2020
 D
Harder, Josh
California · Oct 8, 2019
 D
Schiff, Adam B.
California · Oct 8, 2019
 D
Case, Ed
Hawaii · Jun 27, 2019
Palazzo, Steven
· Jun 27, 2019
 R
Mast, Brian J.
Florida · Jun 6, 2019
 R
Wittman, Robert J.
Virginia · May 14, 2019
 R
Fitzpatrick, Brian K.
Pennsylvania · Mar 28, 2019
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1979: Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-1979/
MLA
"H.R. 1979: Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-1979/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1979, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-1979/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1979: Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-1979/)
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