11-R244

2011 -- S 0850

Enacted 05/04/11

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY URGING CONGRESS TO SUPPORT THE MARKETING OF RHODE ISLAND SEAFOOD

Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, DeVall, Walaska, McCaffrey, and DiPalma

Date Introduced: April 14, 2011

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island seafood products face constantly increasing domestic

competition from imported seafood products, with more than eighty percent of the total seafood

consumed in the United States currently originating in foreign countries; and

     WHEREAS, Effective domestic marketing of Rhode Island seafood requires a constant,

consistent, and long-term marketing presence, especially in times of oversupply and new

competition, in order for Rhode Island seafood to reach a greater market; and

     WHEREAS, Current expenditures for the domestic promotion of Rhode Island seafood

are not sufficient to effectively develop the thriving markets that sustainable Rhode Island

seafood products merit, especially when confronted with nationally-supported promotional

programs aimed at United States consumers by key rival producer countries; and

     WHEREAS, There is not a federally-funded national seafood marketing fund available

for the domestic marketing of American seafood; and

     WHEREAS, Using seafood product import revenues to market American seafood will

preserve American fishing and seafood processing jobs, will preserve United States processing

capacity, and will ensure the availability of domestic seafood for the American consumer; and

     WHEREAS, Throughout recent history, each spill or leak associated with the

transportation or production of oil negatively affects the seafood industry through the closure of

commercial and recreational fishing operations, the destruction of wildlife and natural habitat, or

loss of market share; and

     WHEREAS, A new National Seafood Marketing Fund designed to promote and develop

United States produced seafood would help the United States seafood industry now and in the

future recoup damages related to oil spills that contribute to decreased market demand for

seafood; and

     WHEREAS, A small portion of oil revenues is a logical source of funding for a National

Seafood Marketing Fund as mitigation for real damages incurred by the seafood industry and

coastal communities; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That the Congress of the United States is requested to allocate moneys

generated from federal marine and fishery product import tariffs for the domestic marketing of

Rhode Island seafood; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Congress of the United States is urged to pass legislation

dedicating a significant portion of marine and fishery product import tariffs to a National Seafood

Marketing Fund to promote domestic seafood products that face competition from foreign

imports; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby respectfully requests that the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation works with

representatives of other seafood-producing states to secure adequate funding for effective and

sustained domestic marketing of United States seafood; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to

transmit certified copies of this resolution to the President of the United States Senate, to the

Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, to the Honorable Jack Reed and Sheldon

Whitehouse, United States Senators, and to the Honorable James R. Langevin and David N.

Cicilline, United States Representatives.

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LC02339

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