Fish and Wildlife

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing on U.S. Congressman Garret Graves’ (South Louisiana) recently-introduced legislation aimed at modernizing data used to manage fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico and other coastal areas. The Fisheries Data Modernization and Accuracy Act empowers states to take a more active role in gathering recreational fishing… Read more »

U.S. Congressman Garret Graves (South Louisiana) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) approved all 64 Louisiana parishes for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) for the restoration and rehabilitation of private forest lands impacted by the adverse effects of natural disasters and extreme weather events. “Last year’s drought… Read more »

U.S. Congressmen Garret Graves (Louisiana) and Troy Carter (Louisiana) announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP) funding to crawfish producers in Louisiana affected by last year’s drought. Graves and Carter led a formal request in February 2024 to the USDA, laying out the authority that… Read more »

U.S. Congressman Garret Graves (South Louisiana) and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (Mississippi) – along with U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (Texas), U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman (Arkansas) and 20 other bipartisan Members of Congress – urged the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Assistant Administrator Janet Coit to… Read more »

U.S. Congressman Garret Graves (South Louisiana) and Congresswoman Mary Sattler Peltola (Alaska) sent a letter to President Biden urging him to immediately halt shrimp imports into the United States from India, following concerning reports of severe food and safety issues and labor violations in Indian shrimp processing facilities. The reports highlight that shrimp imported from India… Read more »

U.S. Congressmen Garret Graves (Louisiana) and Troy Carter (Louisiana) led a formal request asking that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provide Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP) funding to drought-affected crawfish producers in Louisiana. Congress has already granted the USDA discretion to provide assistance to farmers affected by… Read more »

U.S. Congressman Garret Graves (Louisiana) announced today that fishing communities will receive a total of $27,152,411 in fishery disaster funding to offset the impacts of both the 2020 and 2021 hurricane seasons on Louisiana's fisheries. The funding was allocated by Congress in the 2023 Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act for multiple fisheries disasters. "South… Read more »

U.S. Representative Garret Graves (Louisiana) announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is purchasing up to $36 million of Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Wild-Caught Shrimp. This will alleviate pressure felt by Louisiana’s shrimp industry caused by natural disasters, higher fuel prices, labor and supply chain issues, and the effects of foreign governments… Read more »

U.S. Representatives Garret Graves (Louisiana) and Marc Veasey (Texas) introduced legislation to preserve marine ecosystems and protect fishing access for anglers in the Gulf of Mexico by improving longstanding artificial reefing programs. Offshore energy infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico serves as prominent, biodiverse habitats for fish, corals, and crustacea to aggregate. Since… Read more »

Earlier today, legislation authored by Congressman Garret Graves (Louisiana), the Duck Stamp Modernization Act, passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 403-20. The legislation will immediately head to the President’s desk for signature.   “This bill will expand access to Sportsman’s Paradise to make it easier for you to spend more early mornings in the duck… Read more »