Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025

Floor Speech

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3831) to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to prohibit feeding sharks in the exclusive economic zone off the State of Florida.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3831

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON FEEDING SHARKS IN EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OFF STATE OF FLORIDA.

Section 317 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1866) is amended--

(1) by striking ``the State'' and inserting ``the States''; and

(2) by inserting ``and Florida'' after ``Hawaii''.

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Mr. WESTERMAN. 3831, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3831, the Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025, sponsored by Representative Webster of Florida.

In recent years, shark populations have exploded in our waters. In Florida, this has posed considerable safety concerns, especially for those participating in the State's commercial and recreational fishing sectors, as well as in other recreational activities on or near the ocean.

To address this issue, Florida enacted a ban more than two decades ago on feeding sharks while diving and snorkeling in State waters. While this ban has been effective in State waters, threats still exist in Federal waters. H.R. 3831 extends the existing State ban on shark feeding to Federal waters, aligning State and Federal policies.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Representative Webster for his leadership on this important issue for the State of Florida, and I urge my colleagues to support the legislation.

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill will improve administrative efficiency and enhance the safety of the ocean-going public by aligning State and Federal regulations. Congressman Webster's legislation is just the latest of several different bills that our committee has advanced to address issues related to shark depredation, which was exacerbated when Congress enacted the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act of 2021. I thank Mr. Webster for his work on advancing this important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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