SJR 27-FED. FUNDING: DOMESTIC SEAFOOD MARKETING  1:02:42 PM CO-CHAIR JOHNSON announced that the first order of business is SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 27, Urging the federal government to provide funding for domestic seafood marketing and promotional activities. [Before the committee was CSSJR 27(RES).] SENATOR DENNIS EGAN, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of SJR 27, explained that this resolution urges Congress to spend more on marketing domestic seafood, including the state of Alaska. Alaskans know where their seafood comes from and that it provides the added benefit of supporting the state's fisheries economy. Alaska's fish are wild and fresh and do not have to travel very far to reach the plates of state residents. However, nationally, that story is different in that over 80 percent of the seafood is imported. Each year the federal government collects hundreds of millions of dollars in duties on the imported fish and fish products that aggressively compete with American seafood. Yet seafood producers receive only insignificant funds for domestic marketing and product development. He said SJR 27 calls for some of the taxes collected on imported fish to be put toward marketing American seafood to Americans. In Alaska, marketing investments in the Alaska seafood industry have meant economic development and support for an industry that is vital to Alaska's economy and future. He requested the committee's support for SJR 27 and noted that it passed the Senate unanimously. 1:05:12 PM CO-CHAIR NEUMAN inquired whether it would be possible to ask that Alaska's seafood be recognized in a highlighted fashion. SENATOR EGAN responded that that is the whole thrust of SJR 27, so he would be willing to accept an amendment in this regard. CO-CHAIR NEUMAN pointed out that the title references funding for domestic seafood marketing, so domestic farmed fish and would fall under that heading. He understood it is Senator Egan's intent to highlight Alaska's wild seafood and that more than half of the wild salmon consumed comes from Alaska. SENATOR EGAN replied the statistics he has seen show that it is more than half. However, of the federal funds that go toward marketing seafood, Alaska receives a miniscule amount for marketing Alaskan seafood and that is the thrust of SJR 27. He further noted that it is at the request of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI). 1:07:13 PM CO-CHAIR JOHNSON opened public testimony, then closed it after ascertaining that no one wished to testify. REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG commented that he really likes the idea of using federal marine and fishery import tariffs to enhance Alaska's fisheries. CO-CHAIR JOHNSON agreed. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK also agreed. He understood that Japan's fish departments are large and its meat departments small, the opposite of America. He said Americans would live much better if they ate more fish, and more Alaskan fish, so SJR 27 is good. CO-CHAIR NEUMAN moved to report CSSJR 27 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSJR 27 was reported from the House Resources Standing Committee.