Garret Graves

You are taking funds from energy production off the coast of Louisiana and other Gulf states.

The whole issue on balancing autonomy with proper fiscal reform and oversight is going to be an interesting balance.

I just want to encourage you. You know, the Navy obviously, as the chairman pointed out, has some acquisition strategies that may be applicable in this case, but most importantly we have got to get this equipment out there as quickly as we…

The current federal management system is not working or at best working too slow.

We should strive to have sound data to guide our management decisions and seek out solutions to ensure our fisheries are ecologically and economically sustainable.

Why is it that the West Coast can manage their Dungeness crabs? Why is it that the East Coast states can manage the striped bass? Why is it that Alaska can manage their salmon, but it is only the Gulf of Mexico states that are unable to do…

The majority of charter for-hire fleet opposes the status quo, and we support Representative Graves' legislation, H.R. 3094.

The current management regime for the recreational fishery is absolutely unacceptable.

To discriminate against the state of Louisiana is ridiculous.

I think it was 72 percent of the federally-licensed charter boat captains in the Gulf actually support state management.

H.R. 3094 will provide that accountability, preserve the current commercial fishery, ensure continued sustainability of the red snapper fishery as a whole and promote access for all anglers.

The five Gulf of Mexico states agree upon very little. ... They came together and proposed a solution.

I want it to be known that I repeatedly reached out to folks on the other side of this and asked for their input in the bill.

There are fundamental problems with the current management regime, access, and the prevention of folks to access the fishery.

There was a study that was recently released that indicated that 82 percent of private boat owners in the Gulf of Mexico support the idea of state-based management.

I think any efforts to come in and distort that would be problematic and not met very well among the Gulf Coast states.

The Gulf of Mexico is a unique area; and coastal Louisiana in particular is known as being a working coast.

I am concerned about the global environment.

There is a huge incentive for companies to get this right, a financial incentive, and I think that is important to keep in mind.

I think that everyone wants to get this right, that we want to improve safety.

Thank you for your leadership on this issue.

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: At the end of the bill, insert after the last section (preceding the short title), the following: Sec.__. None of the funds…

You need the OPC. It is going to give you better capabilities.

The section 1019 of WRRDA 2014 actually expanded, where it said: on the date of execution, before the date of execution, or after the date of execution.

With that, I withdraw the amendment. Amendment No. 7 Offered by Mr. Wittman The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 7 printed in House Report 114-128.