Bill · S. 2357· Senate(119-S-2357)
Young Fishermen’s Development Program Reauthorization Act
- Introduced
- 7/17/2025
- Last activity
- 3/11/2026 — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 351.
- Sponsored by
- Dan Sullivan
- Cosponsors
- - 3 - 1
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Young Fishermen's Development Program Reauthorization Act," serves to reauthorize the Young Fishermen's Development Act. It extends the program's timeframe from 2026 through 2031. The legislation includes various amendments to existing sections regarding specific industry needs like crew management, disaster preparedness, and seafood handling. It also adds new areas of focus such as fishing portfolio diversification and the management of working waterfronts. Additionally, it establishes a process for tracking the career progression of program participants.
Yes· 3 of 8
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?+5
The program specifically targets 'Young Fishermen' to assist in their career entry and progression.
Does this make it easier to run a small business?+4
The bill provides technical assistance and training relevant to small-scale commercial fishermen and their operations.
Would business owners be better off under this?+3
The expanded focus on waterfront management and technical assistance benefits fishery business owners.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Extended Program Duration: By changing the dates in section 5(a) from 2026 through 2026 to 2026 through 2031, the bill ensures the program continues for several more years (Section 2, subsection 2).
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Expanded Training and Focus Areas: The bill adds several specific industry needs that could benefit those in the fishing industry, such as crew management, disaster preparedness, seafood handling, technical assistance, fishing portfolio diversification and expansion, and management of working waterfronts and related shoreside infrastructure (Section 2, subsection 1, paragraph A).
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Improved Program Evaluation: The Secretary of Commerce, through the National Sea Grant Office, will now track the career progression of participants to identify those staying in commercial fisheries or related industries, which will be used to evaluate program effectiveness (Section 2, subsection 1, paragraph C, subparagraph 2).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Young Adults+5Good For Business Owners+3Good For Rural Residents+3
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+4Increases Job Creation+3Improves Economic Growth+2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+3Improves Disaster Relief And F E M A+2
- 3/11/2026
- 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.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 351.
- 11/4/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/21/2025
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 7/17/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublican · Mississippi
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Lisa MurkowskiRepublican · Alaska
Roger WickerRepublican · Mississippi