House Passes Amata’s Fisheries Access Bill

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The US House has approved by voice vote Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen’s “Ensuring Access to Pacific Fisheries Act,” giving American Samoa a greater say in fishery management and access in the western Pacific.

KHJ News Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports…

Congresswoman Radewagen’s bill easily passed the House under rules allowing speedy consideration of non-controversial measures.

The “Ensuring Access to Pacific Fisheries Act” m ust still pass the Senate, which passed a different version that did not meet House budgeting requirements and died in the House.

Amata cosponsored her bill with Insular subcommittee chair Don Young of Alaska, and took to the well of the House to describe its provisions—

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And not just fisheries ‘access,’ but access to better representation, as well…

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But Radewagen cited the bill’s third title as the most important to American Samoa…

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Radewagen complains the Obama Administration has closed off “large swaths of the Pacific Ocean” used by American Samoans for centuries, while imposing “irresponsible” wage hikes on industry.

The Congresswoman points out that witnesses testified on her bill that science has taken a “back seat” to geopolitics in fisheries negotiations in recent years, and American Samoa’s fishermen, especially those fishing for ‘big eye’ tuna, have paid the price.

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