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UNTIL THE GROUP IS FINISHED WITH ITS DISCUSSIONS. 



WHAT I CAN DO, HOWEVER, IS TO APPEAL TO YOU TO ACT QUICKLY ON 

 THIS ISSUE. WE RUN THE RISK OF HAVING FISHERIES SHUT DOWN ON A 

 NATIONWIDE BASIS IF CONGRESS DOESN'T ACT BY OCTOBER 1, 1993. MY 

 COMMUNITIES AND OUR FISHING INDUSTRY COULD CONCEIVABLY GRIND TO A 

 HALT. WE JUST CANNOT AFFORD TO SIT OUT OUR FISHING SEASONS WAITING 

 FOR THE CONGRESS TO FINISH THE LEGISLATION. 



IN ORDER TO HELP YOU MEET THIS TIME FRAME, OUR NEGOTIATING 

 GROUP HAS PUT THE DISCUSSIONS ON A FAST TRACK. OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE 

 A PROPOSAL TO YOU IN THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE. 



IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE NEGOTIATING GROUP WILL SUCCEED IN 

 NARROWING THE RANGE OF ISSUES FOR THIS SUBCOMMITTEE TO CONSIDER. IF 

 WE CANNOT COME TO A CONSENSUS ON AN ENTIRE PACKAGE, THE CONGRESS 

 MUST TAKE THE ISSUES REMAINING IN DISPUTE AND SETTLE THEM AS PART OF 

 THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. IF OUR NEGOTIATING GROUP CANNOT 

 COME TO GRIPS WITH THESE ISSUES IN THE TIME FRAME WE HAVE SET OUT FOR 

 OURSELVES, IT IS NOT LIKELY THAT MORE TIME WOULD RESOLVE OUR 

 DIFFERENCE. 



THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY ON AN ISSUE 

 OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE TO THE ECONOMIC SURVIVAL OF MY REGION. 



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