ContactsNewark Camden Washington, DC Latest Photos...
|
Newsroom: Press Releases
Lautenberg Leads Bipartisan Letter Urging Emergency Federal Funding for Fisheries DisastersLautenberg Press Office, 202-224-3224Tuesday, December 11, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) was joined by 13 Senate colleagues on a bipartisan letter calling for federal fisheries disaster funding to be included in the emergency supplemental appropriations bill being developed in response to Superstorm Sandy. The letter to the leaders of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science requests funding for several fisheries disasters declared in the past year, including the fisheries disaster declared for New Jersey and New York in response to Superstorm Sandy. The emergency funding would provide relief to commercial and recreational fishermen, including reimbursement for losses, equipment repair and replacement, restoration of ecosystems and fisheries, and job retraining. “Over the past year, extreme weather and other natural events have wreaked havoc on commercial and recreational fishermen in our states, leading the Secretary of Commerce to declare federal fisheries disasters. Despite these declarations and the ongoing hardship, Congress has not yet appropriated funds,” the Senators wrote. “Fishing is an integral part of our states’ economies and cultures. These disasters have devastated fishing families and coastal communities and there is an urgent need to provide federal assistance.” Senator Lautenberg was joined on today’s letter by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan M. Collins (R-ME), Jack Reed (D-RI), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Scott Brown (R-MA), John Kerry (D-MA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Begich (D-AK), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Olympia Snowe (R-ME). In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, Senator Lautenberg called on the U.S. Department of Commerce to declare a federal fisheries resource disaster for New Jersey and New York. The declaration, which opened the door for emergency federal funding for the region's fishing industry, was announced in November. Senator Lautenberg is a member of the Appropriations Committee, which will develop emergency funding legislation to aid in the Sandy recovery, as well as the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Commerce Department and NOAA, the agencies responsible for declaring a federal fishery resources disaster. Their letter can be viewed here, and the full text of the letter follows:
December 11, 2012 Dear Chairman Mikulski and Ranking Member Hutchison: We are writing in support of including federal fisheries disaster funding in any emergency supplemental appropriations bill developed in response to Superstorm Sandy. Over the past year, extreme weather and other natural events have wreaked havoc on commercial and recreational fishermen in our states, leading the Secretary of Commerce to declare federal fisheries disasters. Despite these declarations and the ongoing hardship, Congress has not yet appropriated funds. As you know, the Secretary of Commerce is authorized to declare federal fisheries disasters under Section 308(d) of the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act and Section 315 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. These designations allow Congress to appropriate federal relief funds to alleviate the harm caused by natural disasters to fisheries and the fishing industry. The disaster assistance funds can be used to repair or restore fishing equipment and infrastructure, compensate for losses, restore fisheries habitat, support workforce education, provide low-interest loans, and conduct monitoring and cooperative research focused on improving stock assessments. Currently, federal fisheries disasters have been declared in nine states in response to four different events: · Superstorm Sandy – On November 16, 2012, a federal fisheries disaster was declared for New Jersey and New York due to the damage caused by Superstorm Sandy. The high winds and storm surge devastated marinas, destroyed fishing vessels, and resulted in severe economic losses for both commercial and recreational fishermen. · Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery – On September 13, 2012, a federal fisheries disaster was declared for Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Connecticut. The projected reductions in the total allowable catch for certain critical groundfish stocks will have a significant impact on many of the same coastal communities that were hit by Sandy. Despite strict adherence to new and rigorous management practices by fishermen, key fish stocks have not returned. Slow recovery and declining fish stocks will continue to have a negative impact on commercial fishing, harming local communities and economies. · Alaska Chinook – On September 12, 2012, a federal fisheries disaster was declared for Alaska Chinook salmon fisheries in the Yukon River, Kuskokwim River, and Cook Inlet. Thousands of Alaskans have been impacted including commercial fishermen, sport fishermen, and subsistence-based residents. Beyond direct impacts, indirect impacts have been felt by communities through reduced tax revenue, reduced work for processor employees, and reduced income for fishery dependent businesses. · Mississippi Oyster and Blue Crab – On September 12, 2012, a federal fisheries disaster was declared for commercial oyster and blue crab fisheries in Mississippi. Historic flooding of the lower Mississippi River required opening of the Bonnet Carré Spillway on May 9, 2011. This action released substantial amounts of freshwater into the Mississippi Sound, impacting the entire ecosystem. Mississippi’s oyster and blue crab fisheries were extensively damaged, resulting in severe economic hardship for commercial fishermen still recovering from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill. Fishing is an integral part of our states’ economies and cultures. These disasters have devastated fishing families and coastal communities and there is an urgent need to provide federal assistance. We urge you to move swiftly to appropriate funds for these federal fisheries disaster declarations.
Sincerely, ###
|
 |
