Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the amendment offered by my friend and colleague, Congressman Langevin. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of my colleague's legislation, the Fishermen's Fairness Act, which serves as the basis for this amendment. This amendment would provide our home State of Rhode Island with representation on the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council. This move would allow Rhode Island fishing communities to have a voice on the council which manages stocks for species that are among the most valuable to fisheries in our State. Rhode Island fishermen account for nearly 56 percent of total summer scup landings and 54 percent of all Atlantic squid landings, both stocks being managed by the Mid-Atlantic Council. Squid landings are critical to Rhode Island's overall fishing economy, landing more squid than all other States combined and the second most of any other State in the country. In 2015, Rhode Island landed roughly 16 million pounds of squid, nearly 12 million pounds more than its nearest competitor. {time} 1615 The following year was even more significant for Rhode Island, with nearly 23 million pounds in squid landings valued at more than $29 million. All told, Rhode Island accounts for more fish landings under the jurisdiction of the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council than any other State in the region, with the exception of New Jersey.…”