Pallone Praises Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council for Its Action to Create Greater Flexibility in How Mid Atlantic Fisheries Are Managed

Council Approved Omnibus Recreational Accountability Measure Amendment

Washington, DC – In a letter sent June, 14, 2013, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) applauded the Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council for taking action that will create flexibility in how the recreational fishing industry in the Mid Atlantic is managed. The Council voted in June to approve the Omnibus Recreational Accountability Measure Amendment to its Fisheries Management Plan, and the measure now waits for final approval from the National Atmospheric and Oceanographic Administration (NOAA) before it can take into effect.

"As New Jersey, New York and other East Coast states work to rebuild and recover from Superstorm Sandy it is important that we continue to explore options for promoting economic vitality while conserving our coastal and marine resources," Pallone stated in the letter. "I applaud the Council for taking action that will create flexibility in how the recreational fishing industry in the Mid Atlantic is managed and ensure more reasonable outcomes."

As a member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs, Congressman Pallone has called for reforms in federal law to help New Jersey’s recreational and commercial fishermen who can face restrictions in their catch limits based on insufficient data and poor science. Pallone has also introduced legislation to provide supplemental emergency aid to help the fishing industry recoup from Superstorm Sandy.

Full text on Pallone’s letter to the Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council follows:

June 14, 2013

Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council

Chairman

Rick Robins

800 North State St.

Dover, DE 19901

Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council

Executive Director

Chris Moore

800 North State St.

Dover, DE 19901

Dear Chairman Robins and Mr. Moore:

I write to express my appreciation for the action taken by the Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) in approving an Omnibus Recreational Accountability Measure Amendment during your council meeting this past week. I believe that the action taken by the Council will lead to more equitable fisheries management and will enhance the ability of the recreational fishing industry to be an economic driver for the region.

The amendment will allow the Council to evaluate alternatives to the accountability measures currently in place for species that are vital to the recreational sector. I have argued that accountability measures often taken too hard of a toll on fishermen by limiting access to the fishery without adequate timely and scientific justification. The Council is clearly being responsive to these concerns shared by fishermen and addressing them in a responsible way.

I have also proposed allowing for flexibility in management when a species is rebuilt and there is a lack of scientific information that makes accurate management problematic. Therefore, I am glad to see the Council take into account the status of a stock when evaluating payback measures that require a reduction in quota when an overage in harvest has occurred in the prior year.

As New Jersey, New York and other East Coast states work to rebuild and recover from Superstorm Sandy it is important that we continue to explore options for promoting economic vitality while conserving our coastal and marine resources. I applaud the Council for taking action that will create flexibility in how the recreational fishing industry in the Mid Atlantic is managed and ensure more reasonable outcomes.

As the Council submits the Omnibus Amendment to the National Atmospheric and Oceanographic Administration (NOAA) I intend to argue for its final approval. As a member of the Natural Resources Committee and the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife Oceans and Insular Affairs I believe it my responsibility to ensure that NOAA is responsive when the Council takes such appropriate steps.

I am also committed to continuing my efforts to reform the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act). I look forward to further evaluating the work of the Council and incorporating it into my work to see that the Magnuson Act reflects responsible conservation and fair management.

Thank you for your efforts and attention to my letter.

Sincerely,

FRANK PALLONE, JR.

Member of Congress

We're Running Out of Helium

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter:

Helium is useful for much more than filling party balloons. It is required for the operation of MRI machines and quantum computers, the manufacture of microchips and optoelectronics, and the conduct of countless scientific experiments. For many decades, recognizing its value, the United States has stockpiled the gas, which is found as a trace component in some natural gas fields. Under the Gingrich-inspired drive toward privatization of government resources, the 1996 Helium Privatization Act required selling off the national reserves, eventually to leave users of helium at the mercy of the international market. The law was poorly crafted and required helium to be sold at a price that is far below fair market value. This fire-sale pricing has squandered a relatively rare and valuable resource, has reduced returns to taxpayers, and, most important, has resulted in an unreliable supply of helium.

In collaboration with both the Republican and Democratic leadership on the Committee on Natural Resources, I have introduced legislation to establish public auctions to set a fair price for helium. Although our legislation does not provide the long-term fix we will need ultimately to insure adequate supply, it would allocate a portion of our helium reserves for research and defense purposes and stop the firesale of public resources. I wish that when the 1996 bill was passed, lawmakers had cared less about whether a policy was nominally “public” or “private” and more about whether it was intelligently crafted and carefully executed with the long-term future in mind.

The Coming Demographic Deficit

For the past half century, America’s economy has benefited from what you might call a “demographic surplus.” Because of the post-World War II baby boom, our population has consisted of many working-aged adults. Yet as America ages and Baby Boomers retire, we will be at risk of running a “demographic deficit”: that is, the population will begin to skew toward people beyond their most productive years.

We can see similar demographic forces at work in other countries. China is growing at a blistering pace, but due to its “one child per family” policy, its population contains few young people. As an increasing share of China’s population retires, the nation’s economic growth could stagnate. India presents a near-opposite picture. About half of India’s population is under the age of 25. In the years to come, its working-age population will increase, potentially providing an economic boost.

Here in the U.S., politicians sometimes talk about our demographic challenges by saying that the costs of Social Security and Medicare will rise in the years ahead, but that is an incomplete view. A vibrant economy capable of supporting workers, non-workers, and their families depends not only on the number of people in each age bracket but also on the training, education, communications, transportation, research, and other things that are provided to make the workers most effective, knowledgeable, and productive.

How can America overcome our “demographic deficit?” One possibility is to make full use of immigrants in our economy, which could add more working-aged adults to our population and allow them to find jobs where they can contribute the most. Government and businesses also can invest in projects that are likely to produce big payoffs down the road, such as infrastructure and R&D and education, which will help our economy continue to grow despite demographic headwinds.

National Serve Weather Preparedness Week

As Hurricane Sandy and other recent storms have reminded us, severe weather can strike anywhere at any time. This week is National Severe Weather Preparedness Week, a good time to learn about and prepare for severe weather.

In particular, please take a few minutes to prepare a family emergency plan, build an emergency kit, and ensure that your important papers and valuables are stored in a safe place. Also, learn whether your cell phone is equipped to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts, and consider subscribing to receive severe weather alerts from government or private forecasters.

Further information is available online at ready.gov/severe-weather.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress