May 7, 1980 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 10377 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS AMERICAN ·FISHERIES but work in the fishing industry. Some lines-some reporting as many as PROMOTION ACT will hire on elsewhere with other pro­ seven separate incidents on a single cessors. But many will be forced to claim. Foreign fishermen take a sig­ abandon their trade, their city, and nificant number of fish other than HON. LES AuCOIN their way of life. those they are licensed io catch under OF OREGON This is the kind of economic and their so-called incidental take. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES social devastation we are facing. The As a Nation we are committed to full Wednesday, May 7, 1980 problem is this kind of devastation use of our ocean resources and to does not merit national concern, as having U.S. fishermen harvest these • Mr. AuCOIN. Mr. Speaker, the Mer­ the plight of Chrysler did. The truth resources. I have previously indicated chant Marine and Fisheries Commit­ is this kind of devastation should my support for a phaseout of foreign tee soon will report to the House H.R. worry us more than Chrysler. fishing and for a 100-percent observer 7039, the American Fisheries Promo­ As a member of the House Banking program until that time, and I repeat tion Act. I want to take a few moments Committee, I thought the bailout of that commitment again today. to alert my colleagues to the impor­ Chrysler set a bad precedent of prop­ Harvesting of all our offshore fisher­ tance of this comprehensive legislation ping up a company whose products ies resources by U.S. fishermen is the in reviving our drowning fishing indus­ had been rejected in the marketplace. objective of the Fishery Conservation try. This is an industry that haS been That is not the problem of the U.S. and Management Act. This goal pre­ ignored too long-ignored for what it fishing industry. sumes that sound management will de­ has been, ignored for what it is, and ig­ The fishing industry is undercapi­ termine harvesting efforts. But sound nored for what it can be. , talized, fragmented, and norunarket management is impossible without The fishing industry has always oriented. It has not been rejected in sound data. A 100-percent observer been important to America, providing the marketplace-it has never got its program is· a necessary step in the di­ valuable foo<W;uff and other products. product to the marketplace. rection of building our data base. And Today, the fishing industry represents And that is why H.R. 7039, the it is a step toward insuring full en­ the hub of commerce in rural areas on American Fisheries Promotion Act, is forcement and proper compliance. our Nation's vast coastline. In addition so desperately needed. The Oregon I have told that to NOAA Adminis­ to providing livelihoods, fishing also coast does not want a bailout. The trator Richard Frank, and I have sustains a way of life that is important coast wants a chance. heard it from a frustrated Pacific for America to preserve. Since coming to Congress, I have Fishery Management Council-not to Despite its important role today, made fisheries development a major mention angry and frustrated fisher­ fishing could be and should be making priority. Two of my legislative propos­ men. I'm pleased to see this program is an even greater contribution. We live als are mirrored in H.R. 7039's provi­ an integral part of any act claiming in a world where people are starving sions to extend the Capital Construc­ honestly to promote American fisher­ by the millions. Fish could help feed tion Fund and Obligation Loan Guar­ ies. those people. Even in our own back­ antees to seafood processing facilities. Many other provisions of H.R. 7039 yard, we have Americans whose diets Enactment of these provisions is es­ are important, timely, and meritori­ are dangerously deficient. To them, sential if Congress is sincere in its ous. Especially I note the emphasis fish offer a source of 1Ue-enricl1i.ng desire to keep U.S. seafood processors, placed on fishing vessel loans, fisheries protein. both small and large, in operation. We development, fuel efficiency. and fish The need to promote the fishing in­ cannot hope to build up to full use of quality. dustry is obviol!s, yet we have dawdled our resources in the 200-mile zone if Fuel efficiency in particular deserves in stepping forward to provide the nec­ we do not have processors on line to special note. Fuel costs are soaring. In essary assistance in a comprehensive bring the fish to market. many cases fuel now approaches half manner. Marketing of seafood products is yet the cost of operating a fishing boat. Our neglect and our cavalier atti­ another area where this bill takes That is why I'm glad to see language tude toward the fishing industry have direct aim-especially marketing to instructing approval of one or more now put us at the brink. The U.S. fish­ other countries. In 1979, the U.S. im­ Saltonstall-Kennedy projects designed ing industry-particularly the seafood ported almost $4 billion of fish prod­ to improve fuel efficiency in the indus­ processing segment-is in serious ucts, while exporting only about $1 bil­ try. trouble. lion-even though one-fifth of the The American Fisheries Promotion In my congressional district alone, world's commercially harvestable fish­ Act reaffirms the Federal commitment four or five processors are about to eries resources are found in waters off to improve a much needed industry. sink. One already has. the United States. We have got to tum H.R. 7039 can develop the markets for New England Fish Co., considered in this situation around. Americans to enjoy the fisheries prod­ our region as one of the most stable H.R. 7039 attacks this problem ucts off our shores that other nations seafood processors, has declared bank­ headon. It attacks the trade barriers now consume. If we intend to harness ruptcy and closed its doors on oper­ that foreign countries have erected by the wealth of underutilized species for ations in Oregon, Washington, and denying or cutting back on allocations the American diet-species that com­ Alaska. of our surplus fish to countries that pose 90 percent of the foreign catch in In Oregon, New England operated unduly restrict importation of U.S. our 200-mile zone-we. have got to two plants, with an annual payroll of fish and fish products. And it man­ demonstrate that intent in a strong about $1.8 million and supporting 50 dates the appointment of additional fisheries policy, one H.R. 7039 will dic­ fishing boats. Both plants were the fisheries attaches. tate. major employers in the two small Foreign fishing is another problem. I wholeheartedly endorse the con­ coastal 'Cities in which they were locat­ Foreign fishing vessels interfere with cepts contained in this bill, and I com-­ ed. The jobless rate in those two com­ U.S. boats. Foreign fishing vessels in­ mend it to my colleagues. The Ameri­ munities is grim. Difficult choices face terfere with U.S. gear. In the last year can fishing industry is in its 11th unemployed workers, many of whom Oregon black cod fishermen have filed hour. Indeed it may already be a have done nothing else in their life 33 claims for loss of pots and long- minute before midnight. We must e This "bullet., symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by the Member on the floor. 10378 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS May 7, 1980 move quickly and forcefully. The Social security, however you view its Those of us who work within the Social future of America's first industry is at appropriateness in today's economy, is Security Administration have long been stake.e one of this Nation's success stories proud of the effectiveness and efictency of our agency. It has been particularly frus­ from the administrative standpoint. trating to us that the press and the public, With a national accuracy rate of 96 in their generalized criticism of federal EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH percent and an administrative cost of MAKES ITS ANTIABORTION agencies and employees, appear to be un­ less than 2 percent, there are very few aware of the fact that the Social Security STAND CLEAR who could fault this program on its de­ Administration, which will be responsible livery to the people. The Joliet, Ill., for one-quarter of the national budget this· HON. JOHN M. ASHBROOK office is to be particularly commended year, operates at less than a 2. percen~ ad­ or omo for its delivery service to the local ministrative cost margin and achieves a 96 percent payment accuracy rate in its pro­ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES area. The Joliet Office ranked first in grams. As was pointed out in our meeting, Wednesda"'• Ma"' 7., 1980 performance out of 12 districts in the the cost efficiency and operational effective.­ H: s central IDinois area. In achieving this ness of our agency are unmatched, to my e Mr. ASHBROOK. Mr. Speaker, ranking, ·that office demonstrated a knowledge, by any private industry or gov­ there is nothing unusual about a 99-percent-accuracy rate in processing ernment agency in the world. church disagreeing on a particular SSl claims and a 98.8-percent-accuracy Naturally, my staff was happy with your moral point with the public position of rate in processing retirement benefit acknowledgement of the efficiency of Social one.. of its members on the political claims. In addition.