Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1792, the South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2023, will ensure the continued effective management of tuna fisheries and the conservation of marine resources in the South Pacific, benefiting American fisheries in the South Pacific and contributing to the stability of the region. Specifically, this legislation would implement the South Pacific Tuna Treaty, a multilateral treaty between the United States Government and the Pacific Island States. This treaty authorizes a small U.S. purse seine vessel fleet to fish in specific and exclusive economic zones of Pacific Island countries that are party to the treaty. These parties are Australia, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Independent State of Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The South Pacific Tuna Treaty entered into force in 1988 and was extended in 1993 and then again in 2002. Most recently, the parties began to renegotiate the treaty and its annexes starting in 2009. {time} 1600 The treaty has been vital for almost three decades, fostering a mutually beneficial strategic and economic relationship between the United States and the Pacific Island countries. The treaty provides access to lucrative tuna fishing grounds and facilitates cooperation on various issues. H.R.…”