William Helms: “as I make clear my strong support for S. 39, I also extend my congratulations to the distinguished Senator from Alaska…”

“as I make clear my strong support for S. 39, I also extend my congratulations to the distinguished Senator from Alaska [Mr. Stevens] and to his fine staff for their efforts in crafting S. 39, the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996. This legislation strikes an appropriate balance between the needs of the various sectors of the U.S. fishing community while giving both commercial and recreational fishermen adequate opportunities to fish. S. 39 is exceedingly important to our fishermen in North Carolina. I was very pleased last July when Senator Stevens and I flew together to eastern North Carolina to hold hearings in Morehead City on this legislation. We heard many concerns and opinions from all sectors of the fishing community in my State. I appreciate Ted Stevens making the trip and also his allowing me to participate in those hearings. Mr. President, testimony in that hearing indicated widespread support for adding North Carolina as a voting member on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. My State has long participated in council proceedings as an observer and as nonvoting participant in council technical committees--but never before as a full-fledged voting member. So I am grateful that this legislation allots to North Carolina voting memberships on the Mid-Atlantic Council. There have been so many decisions made by the Mid-Atlantic Council that have affected my fishermen; it is good that they will now be able to vote on decisions that affect our State.”