Legislative/Congressional

National Legislation
While the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 is the primary fisheries mandate for the Council, it isn’t stagnant and has been updated and reauthorized, the last time in 2006.  Legislation is constantly being introduced in Congress that may impact fisheries in the Western Pacific region.

Current Fisheries Legislation (as of 4/21/21)
Below are current bills in Congress that are of interest to the Council.  Please note that these bills may change and for the most current information, visit www.congress.gov

Regional Legislation
Each of the island areas in the Western Pacific region also have legislative bodies that pass laws that may have impacts on fisheries and fishing communities in their island areas.  To follow legislation of each island area, click on the links below:
American Samoa
CNMI
Guam
Hawaii

Executive Orders

Signing DateTypeExecutive Order BumberTitleDescription
1/20/2021Executive Order13990Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate CrisisCancels the Keystone XL pipeline and directs agencies to review and reverse more than 100 Trump actions on the environmentClick here for printable PDF
1/20/2021Executive Order13992Revocation of Certain Executive Orders Concerning Federal RegulationDirects the White House Office of Management and Budget director to develop recommendations to modernize regulatory review and undoes Trump’s regulatory approval processClick here for printable PDF
1/20/2021Executive OrderN/AParis Climate AgreementRejoins the Paris climate accord, the landmark international agreement signed in 2015 to limit global warmingClick here for printable PDF
1/22/2021Executive Order14002Economic Relief Related to the COVID-19 PandemicCalls for assistance to those who are struggling to buy food, missed out on stimulus checks or are unemployedClick here for printable PDF
1/27/2021Executive Order14007Establishing President’s Council of Advisors on Science and TechnologyReestablishes the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and TechnologyClick here for printable PDF
1/27/2021Executive Order14008Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and AbroadSeeks to cement the climate crisis at the center of US foreign policy and national security and commits to the goal of conserving at least 30% of the nation’s lands and oceans by 2030Click here for printable PDF
Council response to EO 14008
Council Letter to Secretary Debra A. Haaland, U.S. DOI to provide comments on the implementation of Executive Order 14008, March 29, 2021
Council Letter to Secretary Gina M. Raimondo, U.S. DOC to provide recommendations on Executive Order 14008, March 31, 2021
1/27/2021MemorandumN/ARestoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based PolicymakingCharges the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy with responsibility for ensuring that White House policy is driven by scientific evidence that remains free of political pressureClick here for printable PDF