Young Fishermen’s Development Program Reauthorization Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2357
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-11: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 351.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T17:41:34Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation, titled the "Young Fishermen's Development Program Reauthorization Act," aims to extend and enhance the Young Fishermen's Development Act. The original act provides grants to support training, education, and resources for young individuals (typically under 25) entering or advancing in commercial fishing in the United States and Great Lakes. The bill reauthorizes funding and broadens program activities to address challenges like workforce shortages and industry sustainability.
Key Provisions
- Expanded Eligible Activities (Section 4(a)): Updates the list of supported programs, including:
- Adding "crew management and disaster preparedness" to business planning support.
- Including "seafood handling" in supply chain training.
- Removing one outdated activity (original paragraph 11).
- Adding "technical assistance" to mentoring for new entrants.
- Introducing new focuses: (1) "fishing portfolio diversification and expansion" (helping fishermen explore multiple fishing opportunities or species) and (2) "management of working waterfronts and related shoreside infrastructure" (maintaining docks, ports, and support facilities for fishing operations).
- Grant Term Adjustment (Section 4(c)(2)): Modifies language to allow grants for up to three consecutive years, but specifies they must be non-concurrent (meaning a recipient cannot hold overlapping grants from the same program).
- Program Oversight and Evaluation (Section 4(f)): Requires the Secretary of Commerce, through the National Sea Grant Office (a federal program under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, that funds marine research and extension services), to track participants' long-term career outcomes in fishing or related industries. This data will help evaluate grant effectiveness and future funding decisions.
- Funding Reauthorization (Section 5(a)): Extends authorization of appropriations from fiscal years 2022–2026 to 2026–2031, ensuring continued federal support without specifying exact dollar amounts.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Broadens Scope: The original act focused on core training like safety and business skills; this adds practical areas like disaster readiness, seafood processing, diversification, and infrastructure management to make the program more comprehensive.
- Enhances Accountability: Introduces mandatory tracking of participant success (e.g., who stays in the industry), which was not required before, to better measure impact.
- Adjusts Grant Rules: Clarifies non-overlapping grant periods to prevent redundancy, and extends the program's life by five years.
- Structural Tweaks: Minor reorganizations, such as redesignating subsections for clarity, without altering core intent.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases responsibilities for the Department of Commerce and NOAA's National Sea Grant Office in administering grants, tracking outcomes, and reporting effectiveness, potentially requiring more resources for data collection.
- On Citizens: Benefits young and aspiring fishermen by providing more diverse training options, helping them build resilient careers amid challenges like climate change, market fluctuations, and aging workforces. It could improve access to fisheries in coastal and Great Lakes communities.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though stronger U.S. fishing industries may indirectly support sustainable seafood trade and compliance with international fishing treaties.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Young Fishermen and Entrants: Primary beneficiaries, gaining expanded training to enter or grow in the industry.
- Fishing Industry and Related Businesses: Commercial fishing operations, seafood processors, and waterfront infrastructure owners, who benefit from a skilled workforce and diversified practices.
- Government Entities: Department of Commerce, NOAA, and National Sea Grant College Program, responsible for grant distribution and evaluation.
- Coastal Communities: Local economies in fishing-dependent areas (e.g., Alaska, New England, Great Lakes states) that rely on vibrant fisheries for jobs and revenue.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal support for maritime education without creating new regulatory burdens; aligns with existing statutes like the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act by promoting sustainable fisheries. No challenges to grant eligibility or funding mechanisms are introduced.
- Constitutional: Falls under Congress's commerce clause authority to regulate interstate and international trade, including fisheries; no apparent free speech, property rights, or due process issues.
- Political: Bipartisan support (introduced by senators from fishing-heavy states like Alaska and Mississippi) highlights focus on rural and blue-collar economies. Reauthorization signals long-term commitment to addressing industry decline, potentially influencing future budgets amid debates over federal spending on agriculture and natural resources.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK], Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-11: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 351.
- 2026-03-11: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-115.
- 2026-03-11: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-115.
- 2025-10-21: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 2025-07-17: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2025-07-17: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Young Fishermen’s Development Extension Act — issued 2025-07-17 — PDF (2 pages)
- Young Fishermen’s Development Program Reauthorization Act — issued 2026-03-11 — PDF (6 pages)