Amata and Committee Pass Magnuson – Stevens Reauthorization

Fa'asamoa

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata, praised the passage of the Magnuson Stevens reauthorization through the House Natural Resources Committee markup on Thursday.

Aumua, who serves as the Vice Chairman of the Indian, Insular & Alaska Native Affairs Subcommittee voted in favor of the measure, stating, "This is the first step in the process, but I am pleased that the committee saw the importance of this much needed re-authorization of the law that is the foundation of our nation's fisheries management. Chairman Young's bill, which I was proud to be an original cosponsor, will ensure that our fishermen and the coastal communities like mine in American Samoa have more input into the science and data collection regarding our fisheries and remove some of the influence from outside interests like the environmental lobbies whose agenda often has no concern for the local communities affected by the law."

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Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources completed the markup of H.R. 1335, the "Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act", legislation reauthorizing the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), the primary law governing fisheries resources management in the United States.

The committee also conducted a markup of H.R. 774, "Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2015", which aims to strengthen enforcement mechanisms to stop illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.

Both bills passed through the committee and will now be brought to the House floor for further consideration.

"As a co-sponsor of both of these important measures that will strengthen our nation's fishing industry and level the playing field for U.S. flagged vessels in regards to foreign competition, I am confident that both of these bills will make it to the President's desk to be signed," concluded Amata.

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Pasia e Amata ma le Komiti le Tulafono Muamua (Magnuson Stevens Act) e Fa'atonutonuina ai Faigafaiva I le Unaite Setete

Washington D.C.-Aso Tofi

Na fa'afetaia e le Afioga i le Faipule o le Koneresi o Aumua Amata o Amerika Samoa le fetu'unaiga a le Komiti a le Maota o Alagamanuia fa'ale Natural i le Aso Tofi le toe fa'aaogaina o le Tulafono a Magnuson tau faigafaiva.

Na taua e le afioga i le Faipule o Aumua Amata, o ia foi o le Ta'ita'ikomiti Lagolago o le Soakomiti o Mataupu tau Initia (Amerika), Atumotu ma Alaska e fa'apea, "E ui o le ulua'i la'asaga lenei, a ua ou fiafia lava ua silafia e le komiti le taua o lenei tulafono toe fa'atagaina aua o le fa'avae lea o le fa'atautaiga o faigafaiva i lo tatou atunu'u. O le pili lenei a le Ta'ita'ikomiti o Young sa ma fa'auluina to'alua, o le a tele se avanoa o le ‘aufaifaiva i setete ma teritori pei o matou i Amerika Samoa e fa'asoa mai ai so latou leo ma lagona i su'esu'e fa'a-saienisi ma le aoina o fa'amatalaga e fa'atatau i tulaga o faigafaiva a le atunu'u ma ave'ese ai a'afiaga mai fafo i fa'alapotopotoga tau le si'osi'omaga e le popole i a'afiaga o atumotu pei o Amerika Samoa i itu tau le tulafono o faigafaiva."

O le aso, na mae'a ai ona fa'atulaga e le Komiti o Alagamanuia Fa'ale-Natura le tau o le fa'agaoioiga o le Iugafono a le Maota 1335 (H.R. 1335), le "Tulafono e Fa'atautaia ai Faigafaiva e Fa'amalosia ai Vaega o le Malo e Gafa ma Faigafaiva ma Sa'oloto ai i Latou o Gafa ma Faigafaiva," le tulafono lea e toe fa'atagaina ai le Tulafono a Magnuson Stevens mo le Fa'asaoina ma le Fa'atautaia o Faigafaiva, le tulafono muamua e pulea ai alagamanuia tau faigafaiva i le Unaite Setete.

Ua pasia e le komiti pili e lua ma o le a auina atu i luma o le Maota o Sui mo nisi toe iloiloga.

Na taua e Amata, "O tulafono taufa'aofi taua nei e lua o le a fa'amalosia ai faigafaiva i totonu o le malo tele ma ona teritori ma maua ai e o tatou vaafagota o lo'o tauaveina le tagavai a le malo tele le avanoa tutusa e tauva ai i fagotaga ma faifaiva ma atunu'u mai fafo. E i ai lo'u talitonuga maualuga o le a pasia ma sainia e Peresetene Obama nei tulafono e lua."

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