Legis Daily

South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-531| House 
| Updated: 5/14/2025
Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen

Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen

Republican Representative

American Samoa

Cosponsors (1)
Ed Case (Democratic)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Natural Resources Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill enacts substantial amendments to the South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988, primarily focusing on modernizing the framework for tuna fishing operations. It revises several key definitions, including those for "Closed Area," "Fishing," and "Fishing Vessel," specifically narrowing the latter to "commercial purse seine fishing for tuna." Furthermore, the bill significantly expands the list of prohibited acts , now including violations of regional terms and conditions or any authorized fishing effort/catch limits, while also repealing the previous section on exceptions. The legislation overhauls the licensing process , detailing conditions under which the Secretary may decline to forward a license application, such as bankruptcy or unpaid penalties. It also completely replaces the section on reporting requirements and disclosure of information , mandating strict confidentiality for certain data (e.g., observer data, Administrator-designated information) with specific, enumerated exceptions for enforcement, national security, or aggregated forms. Notably, the bill repeals the entire section concerning observers . Additional amendments update provisions related to criminal offenses, civil penalties, and enforcement procedures. The bill also broadens the scope of technical assistance that the Secretary and Secretary of State can provide to Pacific Island Parties, aiming to benefit them from fisheries resource development and vessel operations licensed under the Treaty, and streamlines procedures for additional fishing access agreements.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-1792
South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2023
Jan 16, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 16, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
May 13, 2025
Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
May 13, 2025
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 531.
May 13, 2025
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1977-1979)
May 13, 2025
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1977-1978)
May 13, 2025
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1977-1978)
May 13, 2025
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 14, 2025
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-1792
    South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2023


  • January 16, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 16, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.


  • May 13, 2025
    Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • May 13, 2025
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 531.


  • May 13, 2025
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1977-1979)


  • May 13, 2025
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1977-1978)


  • May 13, 2025
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1977-1978)


  • May 13, 2025
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • May 14, 2025
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Related Bills

  • S 119-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
AustraliaCivil actions and liabilityFijiFishesInternational law and treatiesKiribatiLaw enforcement administration and fundingLicensing and registrationsMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesMarshall IslandsMicronesiaNauruNew ZealandPacific OceanPalauPapua New GuineaSamoaSolomon IslandsTongaTuvaluUser charges and feesVanuatu

South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-531| House 
| Updated: 5/14/2025
This bill enacts substantial amendments to the South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988, primarily focusing on modernizing the framework for tuna fishing operations. It revises several key definitions, including those for "Closed Area," "Fishing," and "Fishing Vessel," specifically narrowing the latter to "commercial purse seine fishing for tuna." Furthermore, the bill significantly expands the list of prohibited acts , now including violations of regional terms and conditions or any authorized fishing effort/catch limits, while also repealing the previous section on exceptions. The legislation overhauls the licensing process , detailing conditions under which the Secretary may decline to forward a license application, such as bankruptcy or unpaid penalties. It also completely replaces the section on reporting requirements and disclosure of information , mandating strict confidentiality for certain data (e.g., observer data, Administrator-designated information) with specific, enumerated exceptions for enforcement, national security, or aggregated forms. Notably, the bill repeals the entire section concerning observers . Additional amendments update provisions related to criminal offenses, civil penalties, and enforcement procedures. The bill also broadens the scope of technical assistance that the Secretary and Secretary of State can provide to Pacific Island Parties, aiming to benefit them from fisheries resource development and vessel operations licensed under the Treaty, and streamlines procedures for additional fishing access agreements.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-1792
South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2023
Jan 16, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 16, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
May 13, 2025
Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
May 13, 2025
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 531.
May 13, 2025
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1977-1979)
May 13, 2025
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1977-1978)
May 13, 2025
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1977-1978)
May 13, 2025
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 14, 2025
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-1792
    South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2023


  • January 16, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 16, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.


  • May 13, 2025
    Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • May 13, 2025
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 531.


  • May 13, 2025
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1977-1979)


  • May 13, 2025
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1977-1978)


  • May 13, 2025
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1977-1978)


  • May 13, 2025
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • May 14, 2025
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen

Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen

Republican Representative

American Samoa

Cosponsors (1)
Ed Case (Democratic)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Natural Resources Committee

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Related Bills

  • S 119-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
AustraliaCivil actions and liabilityFijiFishesInternational law and treatiesKiribatiLaw enforcement administration and fundingLicensing and registrationsMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesMarshall IslandsMicronesiaNauruNew ZealandPacific OceanPalauPapua New GuineaSamoaSolomon IslandsTongaTuvaluUser charges and feesVanuatu