House Approves Southerland Amendment Advancing Freedom for Fishermen

Statement

Representative Steve Southerland, II applauded today House approval of an amendment that he introduced to prohibit federal funding for the expansion of Limited Access Privilege Programs, or "catch shares," for fisheries along the Gulf Coast and Atlantic seaboard. Southerland's amendment to the FY2013 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Act was approved by a bipartisan 220-191 margin.

"Today marks an important milestone in our fight to advance freedom for our fisheries," said Southerland. "By gifting a select few with a stake of the annual allowable catch, catch shares amount to nothing less than a cap-and-trade management system that privatizes access to once open waterways. I am pleased that a strong bipartisan majority of my House colleagues joined me in standing with our fishermen and opposing the federal government's efforts to pick winners and losers in our fisheries."

Southerland was joined in introducing his amendment by Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY).

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