This includes the National FishHabitat Conservation through partnerships provision, a bill i championed. This title establishes a National Fish habitat board that supports a successful Publicprivate Partnership to restore fish habitat. I would like to thank the Ranking Member of the Natural Resources committee, rob bishop, and the Ranking Member of the subcommittee on water, oceans and wildlife, tom mcclintock. I would also like to to thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for their ceaseless effort and commitment to making sure we do everything we can to conserve prork tect and enhance the resources that we are in charge of taking care of. I look forward to continuing to advance other important provisions, but this bill hopefully will be on its way to the president s desk. As cochair of the Chesapeake Bay watershed task force i would specifically like to act modge my friends an colleagues in the bay delegation who labored so hard for so long to help clean up our great Chesapeake Bay, representative bobby scott, representative sarbanes and representative andy harris and i are pleased to the passage of these important provisions. The american conservation enhancement act does much to enhance our bipartisan goflse conserving fish and wile life populations an preserving the environment for untold future generations of americans. Thes aact will also give americans the ace act will also give more americans the opportunity to get out and enjoy our country, from the great lakes to the pew yet sound and Chesapeake Bay. I urge adoption of the measure and reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentlewoman from michigan, mrs. Dingell is recognized. Mrs. Dingell i yield two minutes to the gentlewoman from virginia. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from virginia is recognized. I rise today in support of americas conservation enhancement act. And the inclusion of my bill the Chesapeake Bay reauthorization act. This is truly an example of a bipartisan bill where weve been able to work across the aisle and across the bay and id like to thank my colleague, mr. Wittman, of virginia, as well for his strong cooperation on this program. Mrs. Luria the Chesapeake Bay is critical to the economic well being of coastal virginia and beyond. The Chesapeake Bay generates 33 billion in economic value annually and is home to spectacular beauty and diversity. Supportspeake bay bill research, funding for the bay program goes to localities to fund this effort. Congress has not passed this pam since 2005. By passing this bill congress will reaffirm the states in the watershed and the states must Work Together and e. P. A. Must Work Together to achieve goals. I want to thank my colleagues in the house and senate who worked hard to prepare the passage of this bill. I would like to thank mr. Wittman, my colleague congressman bobby scott of virm and mr. Sarbanes of maryland for being initial cosponsors of on this bill. I urge all members to support americas conservation enhance. Act and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. The gentleman is recognized. The gentlewoman from michigan eserves. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Wittman thank you, mr. Speaker. I would like to reflect on the words of representative luria. This is a bipartisan bill. Id like to thank not just my colleagues on the other side of the aisle but colleagues from all our states, representative luria and the rest of the virginia delegation, as i talk about the folks from the Chesapeake Bay delegation. Everyone has an interest in this bill. Its an extraordinary effort across many areas where theres common interest. Its a great example of what we can get done when were willing to focus on things we have in common rather than place where we have differences. E thing we do have in common are the thing december be stowed upon us by our creator and our obligation as humanity to protect and enhance those resources not only now but for generations to come. I reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from michigan is recognized. Mrs. Dingell i yield two minutes to the gentleman from maryland, mr. Sarbanes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Sarbanes thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of s. 3051, americas conservation enhancement or ace act. I want to thank congressman wittman for his work. We partnered together as he indicated on the Chesapeake Bay watershed task force with congressman harris and congressman scott. I want to salute the efforts of congresswoman luria in introducing this Chesapeake Bay reauthorization program i was proud to cosponsor. This bill has take an winding road, as these things do, but were close to the finish line an look forward to passage of the bill. Its bipartisan, bicameral, to conserve and protect fish and Wildlife Habitats and combat Invasive Species as we heard and it includes these several bipartisan provisions that will protect the longterm health of the Chesapeake Bay. Specifically as i indicated two bills, one the reauthorize program and the chesapeake watershed investment or chesapeake wild act which would establish a Grant Program to bolster Habitat Restoration and protection throughout the watershed. It also includes a bill i was proud to introduce, the Chesapeake Bay gateways an water trails network reauthorization act which would expand recreational tuns for millions of marylanders and bay area residents across the region. It will significantly boost the health othey have bay and ensure it remains an environmental treasure for years to come. As congressman wittman said we worked together on this ewatershed task force and through that task force we pulled together real bipartisan support for this effort. As the largest estuary in the u. S. , the Chesapeake Bay is an important ecosystem and model for restoration efforts throughout the country and that is in large part due to our successful bipartisan work at the federal, state and local levels. Id like to thank chair grijalva, our house leadership and their staff for the work in negotiating a bipartisan and bicameral Environmental Conservation package. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this important legislation so that our nations Natural Habitats and scenic landscapes like the Chesapeake Bay gentlewoman from michigan is recognized. Mrs. Dingell i reserve. Mr. Wittman id like to inquire of my colleague if she has fourth speakers . I reserve my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentlewoman from michigan is recognized. Mrs. Dingell i yield two minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina mr. Cunningham. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Cunningham when i came to congress i promised to help champion legislation to make this planet a better place for future generations. Thats why im proud the ace act will be signed into law. The ace act is a bipartisan package that enswhires leave this planet in better shape than we found it. The ace act serves as a thank you to the outdoor enthusiasts of South Carolinas First District and millions like them across the United States by providing reauthorization for vital conservation programs. The low countrys hounters and hunters and anglers are some of the strongest stewards of our Natural Resources and this bill is a promise that this partnership will continue for generations. I want to thank congressman thompson for his leadership and my colleagues on both sides for getting this pass. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from michigan is recognized. Mrs. Dingell reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia. Mr. Wittman does my colleague have further speakers . Mrs. Dingell i do not. Mr. Wittman then i will close quickly. Id like to thank my colleague, representative dingell for her efforts. Obviously the Natural Resources committee has a lot of input on this. But again this is a great example about what we can all do when we look at those things we have in common. We have been bestowed these fantastic Natural Resources. Gifts from our creator. We have an obligation to protect them and what we see today is that common idea of that obligation and how we fulfill that obligation. Today really is one of those days where we should remember historically about all the different elements that have come together. We know its an arduous path for many pieces of legislation but today should be a reminder of what we can do when we look at the things we have in common. When we look at our responsibilities and obligations to this nation and to the treasures that we have here before us. Today is indeed a great day. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. It is an indication of what makes this nation great. With that i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady from michigan is recognized. Mrs. Dingell the ace act is the culmination of months of bipartisan work between the house, the senate, Committee Staff and key stakeholders. I want to thank my colleague, mr. Wittman, who ising moring this bill today. All of my colleagues on the Natural Resources committee. So many people have worked to get us here and for me its almost a special moment because decades of work have resulted today in the opening of the Detroit International wildlife refuge which will benefit from this legislation. It makes me kind of emotional today. This passage will thords critical funding for americas fish and wildlife habitat. It is an example of what happens when we all come together to protect our Natural Resources. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass senate bill 3051. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair 2 3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed and without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from michigan seek recognition . Mrs. Dingell i move that the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h. R. 512 as amended. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk h. R. 5126, a bill to require individuals fishing to use certain devices and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule the gentlewoman from michigan, mrs. Dingelling and the gentleman each ouisiana, mr. Graves will control 20 minutes. Mrs. Dingell thank you, mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mrs. Dingell i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. Mrs. Dingell mr. Speaker, i rise in support of h. R. 5126, the creatively and aptly named conservation of and economy through novel devices or defend act. This bill requires every commercial and recreational fisherman to possess a venting tool or descending device when fishing for reef fesh like the prized red snapper in the gulf of mexico. Easy. In addition, the bill requires the department of commerce to contract with the National Report on sciences to discord mortality in gulf fisheries. It also requires commerce and the Gulf Fishery Council guidance for reporting discards an associated mortality and develop a plan to assess the effectiveness and usage of trauma reducing devices. The United States has some of the most Sustainable Fisheries in the world but the issue of catch is still a very serious concern. Anglers sometimes catch fish they dont want and are not allowed to keep so they need to be returned to the ocean. According to some estimates, global bycatch may amount to 10 of the worlds total catch. Owever, deep water grouper and snapper express pressure changes when brought to the surface. It can cause death and can leave injured fish exposed to predators exposed. If the fish are thrown back, it is likely they will die, which is both a waste and unhealthful for promoting healthy fish populations. Reduce dues this by is by using a descending device. Similar requirements exist in other parts of the country but held up in the gulf. The descend act would get around the bureaucratic roadblock and implement this commonsense proconservation practice. This is a simple path forward for reducing mortality for some of the prized fish in the country which will create sustainable, profitable and enjoyable fisheries for andlers in this nation. I reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves. The gentleman from louisiana, mr. Graves, is recognized. Mr. Graves mr. Speaker, i thank my friend from michigan. And i want to thank the chairman and Ranking Member bishop for their work on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, years ago, the federal government tried to tell our communities, all of us grew up fishing and many for substance and for recreation, its our outdoors. The federal government told us would only get three to nine days to fish for red snapper. When we were a kid, that was our recreation. We dont have mountains and the other recreational opportunities that go along with those types of elevation changes. Fishing is our outdoors. Its what we door at home. And that was being taken away from us. We totally disagreed on the solution. We butted heads for years to work for a solution. On this bill, mr. Huffman and i are in lock step. We are joined as cosponsors on this bill and are moving this one together because we believe this is the right solution. As you heard mrs. Dingell just explain, what happens is we have a season on red snapper and only fish for a certain number of days a year. Yet, you cant tell what fish is going to bite your line when its under the water. Red snapper live at 100 feet or below and they can stay at certain depths. When they are caught, they are exhausted and a fish cannot go back down. They have technologies, mr. Speaker, as ones like this, descending device like that where you can release the fish down to the proper depths and they have venting tools to release the pressure. We are talking about 2 1 2 million fish that are discarded or lost. If we are having conflicts between recreational and commercial fisher in terms of the access to the fisheries and we are discarding 2 1 2 million fish every five years, it is a huge opportunity for us to actually grow the pie. And as my friend from michigan stated, to actually ensure the sustainability of these fisheries, not just for us but for our children and grandchildren for generations to come. It is a better management tool that is used in other areas and this legislation would provide for the use of descending and venting tools as well as additional freeing up Research Dollars associated with red snapper and descending tool use and management of the fisheries. I thank the chairman and the Ranking Member. I thank bill, christine and laura and all the staff that did a great job as well as jeff and cindy in our office. I reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentlewoman from michigan. Mrs. Dingell i have no further requests for time and inquire whether my colleague has any remaining speakers . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from louisiana is recognized. Mr. Graves i yield three minutes to the the gentleman from georgia, mr. Carter. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Carter mr. Speaker, i thank my colleagues for allowing me the time to speak on an issue that is important to my district and something i want other parts of the country to benefit as well. As you can see, i know a thing or two about fishing. In fact, mr. Speaker, it has been said that fish tremble at the mention of my name. And mr. Speaker, its been said, you put me in water and i will catch fish. This is a red snapper. It was caught on the atlantic coast. I represent the best district in the nation, the entire coast of georgia. And this is caught off the coast of georgia. Fishing is not just a hobby but a way of life and part of our coastal economies. It is critical that we maintain our fisheries. This bill that we are discussing today, the descend act would do that by expanding descending devices when. We use these devices on the atlantic coast. I have used them before. The red snapper are popular fish to fish for but are p mostly caught near the bottom of the ocean and they must be released because they are out of season or because of size restrictions. Unfortunately, though, when they are reeled to the surface as representative graves so accurately described, when they are reeled to the surface, the decreased water pressure on the fishs interm organs allow gases to expand in their bodies than can compensate. This makes it impossible for the fish to return to the bottom, resulting in the death of the fish that are caught and released. Descending devices like was shown earlier by representative graves releases the fish at a depth sufficient enough for the fish to be able to recover from these damaging effects. This is an effective conservation practice supported by fisherm