H.R. 4800

119 HR 4800 IH: Fisheries Modernization Act of 2025
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-07-29
 text/xml
 EN
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 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 4800  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   July 29, 2025   Mr. Higgins of Louisiana  (for himself and  Mr. Fields ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Natural Resources    A BILL
To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to make certain freshwater fisheries eligible for fishery resource disaster relief.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Fisheries Modernization Act of 2025  .
2.
Certain freshwater fisheries eligible for fishery resource disaster relief
(a)
In general
Section 312(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1861a(a) ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1)—
(A)
in subparagraph (A), by inserting  infrastructure-related cause,  after  discrete anthropogenic cause, ;
(B)
by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (G) as subparagraphs (F) through (H), respectively; and
(C)
by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
(E)
Infrastructure-related cause
The term  infrastructure-related cause  means an event—
(i)
caused by the operation or failure of Federal or State infrastructure, including—
(I)
flood control systems;
(II)
spillways;
(III)
levees; and
(IV)
diversions; and
(ii)
that results in measurable disruption to commercial or subsistence fishery activity, aquatic habitat, or water quality.
 ;
(2)
in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting  , including with respect to the red swamp crawfish (Procambarus clarkii) and white river crawfish (Procambarus zonangulus) fisheries  after  in accordance with this subsection ;
(3)
in paragraph (3)(B)(v)—
(A)
in subclause (III), by striking  and  at the end;
(B)
in subclause (IV), by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; and ; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(V)
with respect to the red swamp crawfish (Procambarus clarkii) and white river crawfish (Procambarus zonangulus) fisheries, information related to hydrological conditions, water quality degradation, extreme flooding or drought, or other environmental disruptions that directly impact viability.
  ; and
(4)
in paragraph (5)—
(A)
in subparagraph (A)—
(i)
by redesignating clauses (iii) and (iv) as clauses (iv) and (v), respectively;
(ii)
by inserting after clause (ii) the following:
(iii)
an infrastructure-related cause;
 ; and
(iii)
in clause (iv), as so redesignated, by striking  a combination of a natural cause and an anthropogenic cause  and inserting  any combination of clauses (i) through (iii) ; and
(B)
in subparagraph (D), by striking  and safety,  and inserting  and safety, and including a disaster affecting the red swamp crawfish (Procambarus clarkii) and white river crawfish (Procambarus zonangulus) fisheries, .
(b)
Rule of construction
Nothing in this section may be construed to limit, reduce, or otherwise affect the eligibility of any marine or anadromous fishery for fishery resource disaster assistance under section 312 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1861a ).