Jared Huffman: “I have no other speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a…”

“I have no other speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the California fishermen who participated in the experimental technology demonstration project expressing their concerns with the bill. May 6, 2019. Re: H.R. 1979--Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act Hon. Ted Lieu, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Congressman Lieu: We are participants in the experimental Deep-Set Buoy Gear (``DSBG'') fishery off the California Coast. A majority of us participate in, or have participated in, the drift gillnet fishery. We are writing to express our concerns regarding H.R. 1979, the Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act. H.R. 1979 includes language which will phase-out the use of drift gillnets (``DGN'') to harvest swordfish and require the ``. . . adoption of alternative fishing practices that minimize the incidental catch of living marine resources''. Our concern is based on the fact that while there is potential for alternative gear to be used in this fishery, currently there is no existing gear that can be substituted for the DGN gear and still allow fishermen to earn a living. The Pacific Fishery Management Council (``PFMC'') is currently working towards authorizing Deep-Set Buoy Gear (``DSBG''), a swordfish gear type that was developed to provide west coast fishers with an additional gear option for use during periods of reduced landings.…”