Legislature(2021 - 2022)GRUENBERG 120
01/27/2022 11:00 AM House FISHERIES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SJR16|| SJR17 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SJR 16 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SJR 17 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SJR 16-END RUSSIA EMBARGO ON U.S. SEAFOOD
SJR 17-INCREASE SEAFOOD EXPORTS
11:03:01 AM
CHAIR STUTES announced that the order of business would be
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 16, Calling on President Biden to
immediately seek and secure an end to the embargo imposed by
Russia on seafood imports from abroad so that Alaska seafood
producers' access to the Russian domestic seafood market is
fully restored, and SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 17, Requesting
the United States Trade Representative to bring a renewed focus
on the plight of producers of seafood in the state and the
United States and to compel China to comply with its commitment
to increase its imports of seafood products from the United
States.
11:03:33 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY moved amendment 1 to SJR 16, labeled 32-
LS0912\A.1, Bullard, 1/26/22, which read as follows:
Page 2, line 12, following "States;":
Insert "the Honorable Antony Blinken, United
States Secretary of State; the Honorable Gina
Raimondo, United States Secretary of Commerce; the
Honorable Katherine Tai, United States Trade
Representative;"
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES objected.
11:03:49 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY explained amendment 1 to SJR 16 which,
following previous committee discussion, would include
additional federal official recipients to include the States
Secretary of State; the United States Secretary of Commerce; and
the United States Trade Representative.
11:04:42 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES removed her objection; there being no
further objection, amendment 1 to SJR 16 was adopted.
11:04:53 AM
The committee took a brief at-ease.
11:05:13 AM
CHAIR STUTES moved amendment 2 to SJR 16, labeled 32-LS0912\A.2,
Bullard, 1/26/22, which read as follows:
Page 1, lines 2 - 3:
Delete "so that Alaska seafood producers' access
to the Russian domestic seafood market is fully
restored"
Insert ", or place a reciprocal embargo on
Russian seafood entering the United States, until a
reasonable trade agreement restoring Alaska seafood
producers' full access to Russia's domestic seafood
market is secured"
Page 2, lines 9 - 10:
Delete "so that Alaska seafood producers' access
to Russia's domestic seafood market is fully restored"
Insert ", or place a reciprocal embargo on
Russian seafood entering the United States until a
reasonable trade agreement restoring Alaska seafood
producers' full access to Russia's domestic seafood
market is secured"
11:05:47 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS objected.
CHAIR STUTES explained that amendment 2 was drafted with the
intent to place an embargo on Russian seafood imports until the
Russian embargo on U. S. seafood imports was lifted. She added
that U. S. seafood [market share] had been undercut by Russian
seafood in the U. S. domestic market.
11:07:09 AM
SENATOR GARY STEVENS, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, expressed his appreciation for the amendments and
offered no objection.
11:07:19 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS stated that it was unlikely that
Russia would respond to a request to lift the trade embargo in
light of increasing Russian aggressions against Ukraine, and
that, should the amendment pass, the resolution would be more
appropriately consequential.
11:07:56 AM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE expressed her gratitude that the amendment
had been collaboratively drafted and expressed her appreciation
that it would result in a more proactive approach to the Russian
embargo.
11:08:16 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE expressed his agreement with the amendment
and suggested that a stronger resolution, should the amendment
pass, was appropriate. He added his support for adding the U.S.
International Trade representative to the recipients of the
resolution.
11:09:14 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY expressed her support for amendment 2 to
SJR 16.
11:09:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS removed his objection.
11:09:25 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES ascertained that there was no further
objection, and amendment 2 to SJR 16 was adopted.
11:09:49 AM
SENATOR STEVENS thanked the committee for hearing the
resolutions. He noted the ongoing tensions with Russia and
China which has caused enormous problems for the Alaska fishing
industry, a large part of the Alaska economy. He stated that
stronger trade agreements and enforcement would provide more
opportunity for the [seafood] industry and workforce, including
support industries. He added that the resolutions would be a
good first step in addressing Russias and Chinas unfair trade
practices and would benefit the state. He added that the Alaska
congressional delegation was aware of the consideration of SJR
16 & SJR 17 and were in support of them.
11:12:13 AM
CHAIR STUTES asked Mr. Barrows from the Pacific Seafood
Processors Association (PSPA) to share his thoughts testimony
provided by Representative McCabe at the January 25, 2022, House
Special Committee on Fisheries in which he had expressed
concerns regarding inadequate U. S. Coast Guard patrols of the
arctic. She acknowledged that Mr. Barrows, like Representative
McCabe, had served in the U. S. Coast Guard and had direct
experience with patrols in the arctic.
11:13:14 AM
CHRIS BARROWS, President, Pacific Seafood Processors
Association, stated that his specialty during his 29 years of
military service had been in fisheries policy and law
enforcement. He stated the importance of maintaining
enforcement presence in the Bering Sea along the Maritime
Boundary Line between the U. S. and Russia. He added that the
patrols also furthered sustainable management of Alaskas
fisheries. He added that he had managed strategy and policy of
fishery law enforcement from his post in Washington, D.C. as
well as from Juneau Coast Guard District 17. He noted that,
during his service, there existed the Ocean Guardian Plan with a
specific focus in Alaska on international fisheries management
that included a major cutter presence in the arctic. He stated
his understanding that the programs continue and remain
important to Alaska fisheries.
11:17:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE expressed his appreciation of the U. S.
Coast guard presence in Alaska. He stated that there existed
satellite surveillance to attempt to detect illegal fishing
activities of the Russian fleet; however, physically present
patrols could not be replaced by satellite technology. He
suggested that representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard could
be invited to provide additional information to the committee
regarding patrols and technologies in use for international
fisheries management enforcement.
11:19:05 AM
MR. BARROWS confirmed to Representative McCabe that the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council maintains a non-voting seat
designated for the Admiral of the U.S. Coast Guard. He stated
that reports containing the information sought are provided to
the council regularly.
11:20:17 AM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE moved to report SJR 16, as amended, out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, SJR 16, as amended, was
moved from committee.
11:20:53 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY moved to report SJR 17 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, SJR 17 was moved from
committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SJR 16 Sponsor Statement 5.14.21.pdf |
HFSH 1/27/2022 11:00:00 AM SRES 5/17/2021 3:30:00 PM |
SJR 16 |
| SJR 16 Version A - 5.11.21.PDF |
HFSH 1/25/2022 11:00:00 AM HFSH 1/27/2022 11:00:00 AM |
SJR 16 |
| SJR 16 Fiscal Note One - LEG-SESS - 5.18.21.PDF |
HFSH 1/25/2022 11:00:00 AM HFSH 1/27/2022 11:00:00 AM |
SJR 16 |
| SJR 16 Supporting Document - ASMI White Paper - May 2021.pdf |
HFSH 1/25/2022 11:00:00 AM HFSH 1/27/2022 11:00:00 AM |
SJR 16 |
| SJR 17 Sponsor Statement 5.14.21.pdf |
HFSH 1/27/2022 11:00:00 AM SRES 5/17/2021 3:30:00 PM |
SJR 17 |
| SJR 17 Version A - 5.11.21.PDF |
HFSH 1/25/2022 11:00:00 AM HFSH 1/27/2022 11:00:00 AM |
SJR 17 |
| SJR 17 Fiscal Note One - LEG-SESS - 5.18.21.PDF |
HFSH 1/25/2022 11:00:00 AM HFSH 1/27/2022 11:00:00 AM |
SJR 17 |
| SJR 17 Supporting Document - ASMI - U.S. Seafood's Battle in China - 2021.pdf |
HFSH 1/25/2022 11:00:00 AM HFSH 1/27/2022 11:00:00 AM |
SJR 17 |
| SJR 16 Amendment One - A.1 - 1.26.22.pdf |
HFSH 1/27/2022 11:00:00 AM |
SJR 16 |
| SJR 16 Amendment Two - A.2 - 1.27.22.pdf |
HFSH 1/27/2022 11:00:00 AM |
SJR 16 |