[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6651 Received in Senate (RDS)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6651
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 27, 2022
Received
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To establish an Alaska Salmon Research Task Force.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Alaska Salmon Research Task Force
Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to ensure that Pacific salmon trends in Alaska
regarding productivity and abundance are characterized and that
research needs are identified;
(2) to prioritize scientific research needs for Pacific
salmon in Alaska;
(3) to address the increased variability or decline in
Pacific salmon returns in Alaska by creating a coordinated
salmon research strategy; and
(4) to support collaboration and coordination for Pacific
salmon conservation efforts in Alaska.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) salmon are an essential part of Alaska's fisheries,
including subsistence, commercial, and recreational uses, and
there is an urgent need to better understand the freshwater and
marine biology and ecology of salmon, a migratory species that
crosses many borders, and for a coordinated salmon research
strategy to address salmon returns that are in decline or
experiencing increased variability;
(2) salmon are an essential element for the well-being and
health of Alaskans; and
(3) there is a unique relationship for people of Indigenous
heritage who rely on salmon for subsistence and traditional and
cultural practices.
SEC. 4. ALASKA SALMON RESEARCH TASK FORCE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the
Governor of Alaska, shall convene an Alaska Salmon Research Task Force
(referred to in this section as the ``Research Task Force'') to--
(1) review existing Pacific salmon research;
(2) identify applied research needed to better understand
the increased variability and declining salmon returns in some
regions of Alaska; and
(3) support sustainable management of salmon in Alaska.
(b) Composition and Appointment.--
(1) In general.--The Research Task Force shall be composed
of not fewer than 13 and not more than 19 members, who shall be
appointed under paragraphs (2) and (3).
(2) Appointment by secretary.--The Secretary of Commerce
shall appoint members to the Research Task Force as follows:
(A) One representative from each of the following:
(i) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration who is knowledgeable about
salmon and salmon research efforts from the
Alaska Region.
(ii) The North Pacific Fishery Management
Council.
(iii) The United States section of the
Pacific Salmon Commission.
(B) Not less than 2 and not more than 5
representatives from each of the following categories,
at least 1 of whom shall represent Alaska Natives who
possess personal knowledge of, and direct experience
with, subsistence uses in rural Alaska, to be appointed
with due regard to differences in regional perspectives
and experience:
(i) Residents of Alaska who possess
personal knowledge of, and direct experience
with, subsistence uses in rural Alaska.
(ii) Alaska fishing industry
representatives throughout the salmon supply
chain, including from--
(I) directed commercial fishing;
(II) recreational fishing;
(III) charter fishing;
(IV) seafood processors;
(V) salmon prohibited species catch
(bycatch) users; or
(VI) hatcheries.
(C) 5 representatives who are academic experts in
salmon biology, salmon management, salmon ecology
(marine and freshwater), or comprehensive marine
research planning in the North Pacific.
(3) Appointment by the governor of alaska.--The Governor of
Alaska shall appoint to the Research Task Force one
representative from the State of Alaska who is knowledgeable
about the State of Alaska's salmon management and research
efforts.
(c) Duties.--
(1) Review.--The Research Task Force shall--
(A) conduct a review of Pacific salmon science
relevant to understanding and managing salmon returns
in Alaska, including an examination of--
(i) traditional ecological knowledge of
salmon populations and their ecosystems;
(ii) marine carrying capacity and density
dependent constraints, including an examination
of interactions with other salmon species, and
with forage base in marine ecosystems;
(iii) life-cycle and stage-specific
mortality;
(iv) genetic sampling and categorization of
population structure within salmon species in
Alaska;
(v) methods for predicting run-timing and
stock sizes;
(vi) oceanographic models that provide
insight into stock distribution, growth, and
survival;
(vii) freshwater, estuarine, and marine
processes that affect survival of smolts;
(viii) climate effects on freshwater and
marine habitats;
(ix) predator/prey interactions between
salmon and marine mammals or other predators;
and
(x) salmon productivity trends in other
regions, both domestic and international, that
put Alaska salmon populations in a broader
geographic context; and
(B) identify scientific research gaps in
understanding the Pacific salmon life-cycle in Alaska.
(2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date the
Research Task Force is convened, the Research Task Force shall
submit to the Secretary of Commerce, the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate, the Subcommittee on
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies of the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on
Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, the
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related
Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives, and the Alaska State Legislature, and make
publicly available, a report--
(A) describing the review conducted under paragraph
(1); and
(B) that includes--
(i) recommendations on filling knowledge
gaps that warrant further scientific inquiry;
and
(ii) findings from the reports of work
groups submitted under subsection (d)(2)(C).
(d) Administrative Matters.--
(1) Chairperson and vice chairperson.--The Research Task
Force shall select a Chair and Vice Chair by vote from among
the members of the Research Task Force.
(2) Work groups.--
(A) In general.--The Research Task Force--
(i) not later than 30 days after the date
of the establishment of the Research Task
Force, shall establish a work group focused
specifically on salmon returns in the AYK
(Arctic-Yukon-Kuskoskim) regions of Western
Alaska; and
(ii) may establish additional regionally or
stock focused work groups within the Research
Task Force, as members determine appropriate.
(B) Composition.--Each work group established under
this subsection shall--
(i) consist of not less than 5 individuals
who--
(I) are knowledgeable about the
stock or region under consideration;
and
(II) need not be members of the
Research Task Force; and
(ii) be balanced in terms of stakeholder
representation, including commercial,
recreational, and subsistence fisheries, as
well as experts in statistical, biological,
economic, social, or other scientific
information as relevant to the work group's
focus.
(C) Reports.--Not later than 9 months after the
date the Research Task Force is convened, each work
group established under this subsection shall submit a
report with the work group's findings to the Research
Task Force.
(3) Compensation.--Each member of the Research Task Force
shall serve without compensation.
(4) Administrative support.--The Secretary of Commerce
shall provide such administrative support as is necessary for
the Research Task Force and its work groups to carry out their
duties, including support for virtual or in-person
participation and travel expenses.
(e) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Federal Advisory Committee
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Research Task Force.
Passed the House of Representatives April 26, 2022.
Attest:
CHERYL L. JOHNSON,
Clerk.