Illegal Red Snapper Enforcement Act
S. 3879118th Congress

Illegal Red Snapper Enforcement Act

Reported by CommitteeSen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)17 sections · 2 min read
Version: Reported to Senate · Dec 18, 2024

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Illegal Red Snapper Enforcement Act. This Act may be cited as the Illegal Red Snapper Enforcement Act.

(a) Definitions

In this section: In this section:

(1) Administrator

The term Administrator means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The term Administrator means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(2) Appropriate committees of Congress

The term appropriate committees of Congress means— The term appropriate committees of Congress means—

(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and

(B) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives. the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.

(3) Under Secretary

The term Under Secretary means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The term Under Secretary means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

(b) Standard methodology for identification

The Under Secretary and the Administrator, in consultation with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Commandant of the Coast Guard, shall jointly develop a standard methodology based on chemical analysis for identifying the country of origin of red snapper imported into the United States that— The Under Secretary and the Administrator, in consultation with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Commandant of the Coast Guard, shall jointly develop a standard methodology based on chemical analysis for identifying the country of origin of red snapper imported into the United States that—

(1) is consistent with the needs of Federal and State law enforcement agencies in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; is consistent with the needs of Federal and State law enforcement agencies in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing;

(2) minimizes processing time; and minimizes processing time; and

(3) involves the use of a field kit that can be easily carried by one individual. involves the use of a field kit that can be easily carried by one individual.

(c) Report

Not later 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes the following: Not later 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes the following:

(1) A summary of the methodology developed under subsection (b). A summary of the methodology developed under subsection (b).

(2) A plan for operationalizing the methodology. A plan for operationalizing the methodology developed under subsection (b).

(3) Recommendations for further research on identification methods, including other potential applications of the methodology. Recommendations for further research on identification methods, including other potential applications of the methodology.

(a) In general

The Secretary of Defense is authorized to, in coordination with the United States Coast Guard, expend funds appropriated for the Department of Defense for operation and maintenance to provide maritime technical assistance to maritime forces from other nations in efforts to combat illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing (commonly known as IUU fishing) and other transnational organized crime. Such technical assistance may include providing observers, shipriders, and specialized personnel to deploy with such maritime forces, in addition to remote sensing, analysis of data, and operational intelligence, as appropriate and consistent with United States law and policy.

(b) Application of authority

The authority provided under subsection (a) shall apply to the use of the United States Coast Guard members deployed to and operating aboard Department of Defense, partner nation, or international partner platforms, as well as partner nation personnel operating aboard United States military and Coast Guard assets or international partner vessels, as appropriate.

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