Congressman Keating's responsiveness to the OIG report is to be commended.

Mr. Pallone's Coastal Jobs Creation Act directs Federal investment into coastal communities. These bills deserve the support of this Committee and swift action on the House Floor.

I would like to ask you to consider this.

At a time of 9% unemployment we need to consider every jobs bill we can.

I believe will do this and it will allow them to make better and more informed decisions that balance the continued protection of the marine ecosystem with the need for strong, profitable fishing businesses in coastal communities.

I really think there is no real reason not to move in that direction. It is just good common sense.

My colleagues from Massachusetts, Barney Frank and Bill Keating, have put forward two bills that would direct additional money to fishery assessments, and I support that.

there certainly needs to be some certainty in the Tax Code for the small businesses that create the jobs in our country

Thank you, Chairman Hastings and Representative Markey, Ranking Member.

NOAA is likely to impose strict limits on fish about which they have little or no information.

There have been few measures this session of Congress that have received such broad bipartisan support as the need to increase scientific research of stock assessments.

I completely support Representative Runyan's efforts to protect jobs.