United States · Law · HR
H.R. 5126 (116th)
DESCEND Act of 2020
Introduced
15 November 2019
Last action
13 January 2021 · President
Status
Became Public Law No: 116-340.
Sponsors
Garret Graves, Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Steven Palazzo, Joe Cunningham, Francis Rooney, Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Daniel Webster
Subjects
Discovery layer
Source updated
28 May 2025
Summary
Direct Enhancement of Snapper Conservation and the Economy through Novel Devices Act of 2019 or the DESCEND Act of 2019 This bill addresses the use of descending devices to release reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico. (A descending device is an instrument that will release fish at a depth sufficient for the fish to be able to recover from the effects of barotrauma.) Specifically, the bill requires commercial and recreational fishermen to possess a venting tool or descending device that is rigged and ready for use when fishing for reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico Exclusive Economic Zone, the Department of Commerce to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study and produce a report on discard mortality in the Gulf reef fish fisheries, and Commerce and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council to develop guidance for reporting discards and associated mortality and develop a plan to assess the effectiveness and usage of barotrauma-reducing devices.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
15 November 2019
Introduced
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Source: IntroReferral
15 November 2019
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
15 November 2019
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
4 December 2019
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
Source: Committee
14 January 2020
Committee
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Source: Committee
11 March 2020
Reported
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Committee
11 March 2020
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
11 March 2020
Committee
Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Discharged.
Source: Committee
24 September 2020
Calendars
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 431.
Source: Calendars
24 September 2020
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-531.
Source: Committee
24 September 2020
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-531.
Source: Committee
1 October 2020
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
1 October 2020
Passed
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5176)
Source: Floor
1 October 2020
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Source: Floor
1 October 2020
Floor
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5126.
Source: Floor
1 October 2020
Floor
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5176-5178)
Source: Floor
1 October 2020
Floor
Mrs. Dingell moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Source: Floor
19 October 2020
Introduced
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Source: IntroReferral
21 December 2020
Passed
Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
21 December 2020
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
21 December 2020
Discharge
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7902)
Source: Discharge
21 December 2020
Committee
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Committee
1 January 2021
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
1 January 2021
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
13 January 2021
Became law
Became Public Law No: 116-340.
Source: President
13 January 2021
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
13 January 2021
President
Signed by President.
Source: President
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Enrolled Bill · undated · Official file
- Public Law · 14 January 2021 · Official file
- Referred in Senate · 19 October 2020 · Official file
- Engrossed in House · 1 October 2020 · Official file
- Reported in House · 24 September 2020 · Official file
- Introduced in House · 15 November 2019 · Official file
Documents
17 official files
Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill · EN
Enrolled Bill (PDF)
Enrolled Bill · EN
Public Law (text)
Public Law · EN · 14 January 2021
Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 14 January 2021
Public Law
summary · EN · 13 January 2021
Passed Senate
summary · EN · 21 December 2020
Referred in Senate (text)
Referred in Senate · EN · 19 October 2020
Referred in Senate (PDF)
Referred in Senate · EN · 19 October 2020
Engrossed in House (text)
Engrossed in House · EN · 1 October 2020
Engrossed in House (PDF)
Engrossed in House · EN · 1 October 2020
Passed House
summary · EN · 1 October 2020
Reported in House (text)
Reported in House · EN · 24 September 2020
Reported in House (PDF)
Reported in House · EN · 24 September 2020
Reported to House
summary · EN · 24 September 2020
Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 15 November 2019
Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 15 November 2019
Introduced in House
summary · EN · 15 November 2019
Sponsors
- Garret Graves · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] · D · Sponsor
- Steven Palazzo · R · Sponsor
- Joe Cunningham · D · Cosponsor
- Francis Rooney · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33] · D · Cosponsor
- Daniel Webster · R · Cosponsor
- · sscm00 · Standing
- · hsii00 · Standing
Related records
- related to ← DESCEND Act of 2019
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/5126
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/116/hr/5126
- us · 116-hr-5126 · source updated 28 May 2025