US Congress Senate Bill 2960 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: Introduced on December 2 2019 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2019-12-02 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Pending: Senate Commerce, Science, And Transportation Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Addresses the use of descending devices to release reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico. (A descending device is an instrument that will release fish at a depth sufficient for the fish to be able to recover from the effects of barotrauma.) Specifically, the bill requires commercial and recreational fishermen to possess a venting tool or descending device that is rigged and ready for use when fishing for reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico Exclusive Economic Zone, the Department of Commerce to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study and produce a report on discard mortality in the Gulf reef fish fisheries, and Commerce and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council to develop guidance for reporting discards and associated mortality and develop a plan to assess the effectiveness and usage of barotrauma-reducing devices.

DESCEND Act of 2019 Direct Enhancement of Snapper Conservation and the Economy through Novel Devices Act of 2019

Sen. Bill Cassidy [R-LA]

Sen. Doug Jones [D-AL]

Sen. John Cornyn [R-TX]

Date	Chamber	Action
2019-12-02	Senate	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

HB5126 (Related) 2021-01-13 - Became Public Law No: 116-340.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/2960/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s2960/BILLS-116s2960is.pdf