§4004 Establishment of National Council

Summary

Creates the National Fish and Seafood Promotional Council. The Secretary is a nonvoting member and will appoint 15 voting members from nominations the Secretary sets. The Council must include people from four regions: Northeast (Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia), Southeast (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands), Pacific (Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands), and Alaska (Alaska). Voting members include three from each region, two at-large with freshwater/inland fisheries expertise (at least one of those must not live in the states listed for the four regions), and one at-large who is either a nutrition/food-preparation communicator about fish or a union member with fisheries expertise. For each regional trio, one must be a harvester, one a processor or receiver, and one a marketer. Members serve 4-year terms. A vacancy does not stop the Council from working, and the Secretary must fill a vacancy within 60 days for an unexpired term. Members may stay past their term until a successor is named. The Council elects a chair each year by majority when a quorum is present. Ten members make a quorum, but fewer can hold hearings. The first meeting had to occur within 180 days after November 14, 1986. Members are not paid, but they are reimbursed for travel and expenses under 5 U.S.C. 5703.