Legislative Hearing on H.R. 338, H.R. 1514, H.R. 3756 and H.R. 5699

House Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries

2025-11-19

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Source: Congress.gov

Summary

This meeting focused on proposed legislation aimed at improving natural resource management and combating illegal activities in fisheries and water systems. Several bills were discussed, emphasizing collaboration, stable funding, and the use of accurate data to address complex environmental and economic challenges facing the nation's waterways and fishing industries .

Themes

Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission Act (H.R. 1514)

The proposed Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission Act, introduced by Representative Ezell, seeks to establish a structured, voluntarily funded commission to enhance collaboration among 31 states, tribal nations, and federal agencies in managing the Mississippi River Basin's fisheries . The basin is vital for recreational fishing, supporting a $26 billion annual economy, but faces threats from inconsistent coordination, unreliable funding, and invasive species [ 00:02:39 ] . Mr. Batten, chairman of the Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Resource Association, strongly supported the bill, highlighting the basin's ecological and economic importance and the need for a congressionally recognized structure to facilitate cooperative management . He explained that the commission, modeled after the successful Great Lakes Fishery Commission, would provide stable funding for research and management, particularly for combating invasive species like carp, and would operate with non-binding authority, respecting state sovereignty . The discussion underscored how this commission could unite control efforts between the Mississippi River Basin and the Great Lakes, fostering a holistic approach to invasive species management [ 01:04:18 ]

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Every Drop Counts Act (H.R. 338)

Representative Costa introduced the Every Drop Counts Act, a bipartisan effort aimed at improving groundwater recharge and water management, particularly in California . The bill proposes expanding eligible groundwater projects by increasing the storage limit from 30,000 to 150,000 acre-feet, addressing land subsidence caused by groundwater overdraft . Ms. Compton of the Irvine Ranch Water District testified in favor, emphasizing water resiliency and the benefits of partnerships between urban and agricultural entities for groundwater banking . She highlighted the "triple win" for urban, agricultural, and environmental customers that such projects can achieve and noted that groundwater recharge benefits all users by raising water levels .

Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvest (FISH) Act (H.R. 3756)

The FISH Act, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Representatives Crenshaw, Magaziner, and Begich, aims to eliminate illegally caught seafood from entering the United States by targeting the source of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing . Mr. Conrad, representing the National Fisheries Institute, strongly supported the bill, contrasting it with the ineffective Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) . The FISH Act would establish a blacklist of foreign vessels and owners engaged in IUU fishing, imposing sanctions, U.S. port entry bans, and import bans on seafood linked to these vessels . Speakers emphasized that IUU fishing undermines legitimate harvesters, erodes consumer confidence, and is often linked to organized crime, forced labor, and national security threats, with China being a significant concern .

Fisheries Data Modernization and Accuracy Act of 2025 (H.R. 5699)

This act focuses on reforming recreational fisheries data collection, specifically addressing the inaccuracies of the Recreational Fisheries Information Network (MRIP) [ 00:02:51 ] . Dr. Sweetman from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission testified that MRIP's "one-size-fits-all" approach leads to inaccurate data, citing an example where a single catch was extrapolated to 300,000 pounds . He advocated for the use of more accurate state-led data collection programs, which have proven successful for managing species like red snapper in the Gulf states . While the bill aims to improve data accuracy and empower states, concerns were raised about potential unintended consequences, such as disrupting existing effective programs like RecFin on the West Coast and eliminating necessary data calibration methods .

Tone of the Meeting

The overall tone of the meeting was one of collaborative urgency and shared commitment to addressing critical challenges in fisheries and water management [ 00:09:54 ]

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. Participants expressed frustration with existing bureaucratic inefficiencies and the impact of flawed federal programs, but maintained a solution-oriented approach . There was strong bipartisan support for legislation that empowers states, improves data accuracy, and combats illegal activities, reflecting a unified desire to protect natural resources and support dependent communities and industries .

Participants

Transcript

country.  The basin's water comes from 31 states, carries about 40 percent of the Americas water and supports communities, farms and industries from the Midwest all the way down to the Gulf Coast.  The basin is home for great fishing and a quarter of all North American fish species.  Recreational fishing alone brings in about 26 billion to the economy every year, directly supporting our communities, small business and families who depend on healthy waters.   But managing the largest river system in North America requires diligent collaboration.  Thirty-one states, several tribal nations, and at least seven federal agencies all share some responsibilities for the basin's fisheries.  However, the coordination is inconsistent and funding is often unreliable.  My bill, H.R.  1514, the Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission, would help to fix that by providing structured,   and a stable funding stream for states, tribes, and federal partners to work together.  The Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission would be housed under the Department of the Interior and built on a voluntary partnership.  Each state would be represented by the chief of fisheries to ensure that all decisions are based on local needs and local science, not D.C. bureaucrats.  The commission wouldn't add any new mandates or federal control.   It focuses authority on collaboration, communication, not regulations.  We use this very model back home on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  We've seen what the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission has been able to accomplish.  It has brought the states together to share data, coordinate management, and protect shared resources.   By authorizing the Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission, we're giving our states the tools and stability they need to protect one of the world's most important river systems and to make sure it continues supporting jobs, recreation, and healthy ecosystems for future generations.
Mr. Batten, thank you for being here today to testify before the subcommittee on this very important matter.  Madam Chair, I yield back.
Thank you, Mr. Ezell.  Mr. Rutherford could not join us this morning due to a scheduling conflict, but he has provided a written statement in support of the Fisheries Data Modernization and Accuracy Act of 2025.  I ask unanimous consent to enter Congressman Rutherford's written testimony into the record.  Without objection, so ordered.  I now recognize Congressman Costa for five minutes.
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The Honorable Jim Costa
Thank you very much, Madam Chairperson Eggman, and Ranking Member Hoyle.  It's nice to be here in this committee.  I was a member for 18 years.  It's familiar turf, and it's nice to be back.  I'm excited about the legislation, the bipartisan legislation that I have to present to you.  My bill, H.R.  338, every drop counts act,   is a part of a bipartisan effort.  Glad that we've got Christine Compton from the Irvine Ranch Water District here to testify on the benefits of the spill.  As many of you know, I represent, along with my colleagues, what we think is the most prolific productivity of agriculture anywhere in the country, and therefore the world, the breadbasket of the San Joaquin Valley.   where water is the lifeblood that keeps the critical industry going, as we like to say,   in California in the valley where water flows, food grows.  Where water flows, food grows.  And I have been a participant in these efforts for decades, chairing the State Senate Agriculture and Water Committee back in the day.  And obviously I've done a lot of work on water.  And I believe in subscribing to using all the water tools in our water toolbox.  And that includes surface storage supply.  It includes conservation.   It includes water transfers for best use, and it includes groundwater recharge, which is what this legislation's all about.  Groundwater plays a critical role in California's water supply, often acting as a main source of water in areas without access to surface water.  Yet, sadly, and it's just not in California, but in the Midwest and other parts of the country, we've overdrafted that groundwater in really critical ways.   and it's had damaging effect to land subsidence, not only in the valley, but elsewhere.  I'm talking about land subsidence of 10 to 20 feet and more that has disrupted existing infrastructure that we've had in place.
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The Honorable Jim Costa
And so I liken the impact, and let me give you some examples.  In the San Joaquin Valley, land subsidence has impacted the Frank Kern Canal, which has seen capacity to deliver water in a federal project that was developed in the 1950s

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