Lee Zeldin: “I think it is a great idea to empower the Atlantic Fishery Council by passing this amendment because if we don't pass…”

“I think it is a great idea to empower the Atlantic Fishery Council by passing this amendment because if we don't pass this amendment, if we don't change the Federal law, they are not empowered. Federal law says you can't fish in the EEZ between Montauk Point and Block Island, Rhode Island. So if we do not pass this legislation, if H.R. 3070 became law in the last Congress, we wouldn't be here right now and the Council would be managing the local fishery. But Federal law prevents the regional management of the fishery. It actually just says, outright, you can't fish for striped bass at all. So all the arguments that are now being used for the first time against this particular argument, a proposal that was passed unanimously last Congress, which is now being opposed by a colleague from California, to be telling us what the right policy is on the east end of Long Island, saying that we should be managing this fishery is an argument I absolutely agree with, and that is exactly why it is so important to pass this legislation. My colleague, in opposing this proposal, is actually making the argument of exactly why it needs to pass. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote for it. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Zeldin). The amendment was agreed to. The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 87 printed in part B of House Report 115-295.…”