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H.R. 4897: Deep Sea Coral Protection Act

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H.R. 4897: Deep Sea Coral Protection Act

108th Congress · introduced 2004-07-22 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · Latest: Executive Comment Requested from Commerce.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2004-07-22 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Greenwood, James C. [R-PA-8] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Executive Comment Requested from Commerce. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Deep Sea Coral Protection Act

Plain summary

Deep Sea Coral Protection Act - Requires the Secretary of Commerce to direct the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to research and map deep sea corals and sponges. Directs the Secretary to appoint an advisory panel. Prohibits the use of mobile bottom-tending fishing gear in any Coral Management Area (CMA) and Coral Study Area (CSA). Requires the Secretary to designate: (1) as a CSA any area that is located within the exclusive economic zone which has not been fished using mobile bottom-tending gear for a three-year period, is determined beyond the reasonable depth limits of such gear, or where certain data indicate the actual or potential presence of a deep sea coral and sponge ecosystem; (2) CMAs according to specified coordinates; and (3) all or a part of a CSA as a CMA if there is a deep sea coral and sponge ecosystem in such area, and the use of mobile bottom-tending fishing gear in the area would cause more than minimal and temporary damage to deep sea corals or sponges. Applies the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act's civil penalty and forfeiture requirements to persons who violate this Act's prohibition against the use of mobile bottom-tending gear. Urges the President to identify, with foreign entities, areas in international waters that would benefit from additional protection.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Deep Sea Coral Protection Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Greenwood, James C. [R-PA-8] · 37 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Ed Case (D-HI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong108-hr4897 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108