John Rutherford (R-FL)
Red Snapper Act of 2025
A Republican bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 26 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Red Snapper Act of 2025 prevents the Secretary of Commerce from issuing certain rules or amendments regarding area or bottom closures in the South Atlantic. This restriction applies to species managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region. The prohibition remains in place until the South Atlantic Great Red Snapper Count study is finished. Additionally, the data from that study must be integrated into the next relevant stock assessment.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +1
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill protects the revenue streams of those engaged in the South Atlantic fishing industry by preventing new closures.
- Scored +1
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill supports the economic stability of coastal and rural fishing communities by preventing area closures.
- Scored +1
Is this likely to create jobs?
By preventing area closures, the bill seeks to protect existing jobs in the South Atlantic recreational fishing industry.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill delays potential area closures that are intended to reduce red snapper mortality and protect the species.
- Scored -1
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill restricts the discretionary authority of the Secretary of Commerce to issue specific types of fishery management rules.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Protection of Economic Interests: By preventing immediate area or bottom closures, the bill addresses concerns regarding the economic implications for the South Atlantic snapper-grouper recreational fishery (Section 2(a)(8)).
-
Informed Management Decisions: The bill requires that data from the $3,300,000 South Atlantic Great Red Snapper Count study be integrated into the next Southeast Data, Assessment and Review stock assessment before any new closures are issued (Section 2(a)(10), Section 2(b)). This ensures management decisions are informed by the most recent survey data (Section 2(a)(10)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Unaddressed Mortality Risks: The bill does not prevent the implementation of shorter seasons or broad area closures that were being considered to reduce red snapper mortalities caused by out-of-season encounters and discards (Section 2(a)(5), Section 2(a)(7)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill protects the revenue streams of those engaged in the South Atlantic fishing industry by preventing new closures. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill supports the economic stability of coastal and rural fishing communities by preventing area closures.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill protects the economic interests of fishermen by preventing immediate area or bottom closures. Is this likely to create jobs? — By preventing area closures, the bill seeks to protect existing jobs in the South Atlantic recreational fishing industry.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill delays potential area closures that are intended to reduce red snapper mortality and protect the species.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill restricts the discretionary authority of the Secretary of Commerce to issue specific types of fishery management rules.
- 6/9/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/17/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 3/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/6/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/23/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 1/21/2025
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 1/16/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 16 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Gus BilirakisRepublican · Florida
Vern BuchananRepublican · Florida
Aaron BeanRepublican · Florida
Earl CarterRepublican · Georgia
Byron DonaldsRepublican · Florida
Mario Diaz-BalartRepublican · Florida
Neal DunnRepublican · Florida
Mike EzellRepublican · Mississippi
Scott FranklinRepublican · Florida
Russell FryRepublican · South Carolina
Randy FineRepublican · Florida
Carlos GimenezRepublican · Florida
Mike HaridopolosRepublican · Florida
Anna Paulina LunaRepublican · Florida
Laurel LeeRepublican · Florida
Nancy MaceRepublican · South Carolina
Brian MastRepublican · Florida
Cory MillsRepublican · Florida
Jared MoskowitzDemocrat · Florida
Addison McDowellRepublican · North Carolina
David RouzerRepublican · North Carolina
Maria SalazarRepublican · Florida
Austin ScottRepublican · Georgia
Darren SotoDemocrat · Florida
W. SteubeRepublican · Florida
Daniel WebsterRepublican · Florida