Floor SpeechNeutral2026-06-23

Text of Senate Amendment 5915

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Context

On 2026-06-23, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 5915" in the Senate.

Full Text

Text of Senate Amendment 5915

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S3069] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 5915. Mr. MERKLEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following: SEC. 1094. PROTECTING U.S. FISHERS FROM ILLEGAL FOREIGN FLAGS. (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Protecting U.S. Fishers from Illegal Foreign Flags Act of 2026''. (b) Amendments to the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act.--Section 609 of the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1826j) is amended-- (1) in subsection (a)(2), by adding at the end the following: ``(E) Any nation that allows vessels to be operated under the laws of the nation without confirming a genuine link (as described in Article 5(1) of the United Nations Convention on the High Seas, done at Geneva on April 29, 1958 and entered into force September 30, 1962) between the nation and the persons or entities with beneficial ownership and control of the vessel, and that, as a result, fails to effectively exercise flag state responsibilities as described in subparagraphs (A) through (C).''; and (2) in subsection (e), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: ``(2) Secretary to amend term within legislative guidelines.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the Protecting U.S. Fishers from Illegal Foreign Flags Act of 2026, the Secretary shall amend the definition of the term `illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing' published at part 300.201 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of such Act) to be consistent with section 3532(6) of the Maritime SAFE Act (16 U.S.C. 8001(6)).''. ______

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Text of Senate Amendment 5915 Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S3069] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 5915. Mr. MERKLEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following: SEC. 1094. PROTECTING U.S. FISHERS FROM ILLEGAL FOREIGN FLAGS. (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Protecting U.S. Fishers from Illegal Foreign Flags Act of 2026''. (b) Amendments to the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act.--Section 609 of the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1826j) is amended-- (1) in subsection (a)(2), by adding at the end the following: ``(E) Any nation that allows vessels to be operated under the laws of the nation without confirming a genuine link (as described in Article 5(1) of the United Nations Convention on the High Seas, done at Geneva on April 29, 1958 and entered into force September 30, 1962) between the nation and the persons or entities with beneficial ownership and control of the vessel, and that, as a result, fails to effectively exercise flag state responsibilities as described in subparagraphs (A) through (C).''; and (2) in subsection (e), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: ``(2) Secretary to amend term within legislative guidelines.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the Protecting U.S. Fishers from Illegal Foreign Flags Act of 2026, the Secretary shall amend the definition of the term `illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing' published at part 300.201 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of such Act) to be consistent with section 3532(6) of the Maritime SAFE Act (16 U.S.C. 8001(6)).''. ______