There is competition in the market. New carriers can enter the system.

I am quite sure of that.

the Alaska delegation sent IG Williams a letter requesting the findings within the 2011 inspector general's report.

Safety is part of the equation.

I am not going to go back and forth with you.

The Senate has passed out of the committee in a bipartisan way a comprehensive postal reform bill.

This is not a commercial fishing issue. This is a commercial, rec and subsistence fishing issue.

The Magnuson-Stevens Act, or MSA, named after two forward-thinking members of this committee provides the architectural framework for the conservation and management of the Nation's fisheries.

Can you imagine if we had a complementary type of legislation that had all those great things that the farmers get that we could get?

Assuming that timelines are met.

I give a lot of credit to the Pollock fishermen that they're doing this on a voluntary basis.

Many now argue that finfish and shellfish caught under a Federal fisheries management plan are by definition sustainably caught.

We are making progress toward ecosystem-based management that ensures sustainable fisheries into the future.

People always think, and from Alaska's perspective, that oil and gas is the biggest employer... but the reality is, it is the fishing industry that's the largest employer.

I would say that if they have the capacity to do labeling on our wild stock, they should spend time on that then rather than 'Frankenfish.'

This landmark legislation was originally sponsored by several great friends of Alaska--Senator Magnuson, our own Senator Ted Stevens, and Senator Inouye--and co-sponsored by several Republican and Democratic members of the Committee.

As we move forward on MSA reauthorization, we have to also be aware that there is funding needs.

Fishing is an important part of our industry in this country in the sense of industry and what we can do.

We don't mind you talking about climate change here. OK? We don't have our heads in the sand here.

We must move forward in a thoughtful and disciplined way to ensure our Nation's fisheries are able to meet the needs of both current and future generations.

the vessel discharge regulations are extremely impactful, not just to Alaska but to commercial fishing vessels across the country

the fact that there is no, really, mention in the current Magnuson-Stevens Act issue of acidification, warming waters, climate change, is because at the time it was done, no one really talked about it

Do you think the Magnuson-Stevens Act, as it's written today, is at the very least not as clear as it could be?

You are very good by getting to that answer before the question was asked.

It's defined under the Act as overfished. And it should be considered to be depleted or some other term of ours.