CDQ Community Preservation Act

The CDQ Community Preservation Act (S. 797) aims to secure the legal status of certain rural Alaskan villages participating in the Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) program. This program allocates a percentage of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands commercial fish harvest to eligible coastal communities to support local economic development and poverty alleviation.

By formally codifying the list of eligible communities based on 1999 federal standards, the bill ensures that these villages maintain their access to vital fishing rights and the resulting revenue. For residents of these communities, the bill provides long-term economic stability by protecting the funding used for local infrastructure, job training, and education programs derived from the commercial fishing industry.