U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, recently introduced legislation to improve the Fishery Resource Disaster Relief program of the federal National Marine Fisheries Service.
“This legislation would expedite the process by which fishermen receive disaster relief,” said Sen. Wicker. “I hope my colleagues will move quickly to pass this bill and help our fishermen.”
Sen. Wicker on July 30 sponsored the Fishery Failures: Urgently Needed Disaster Declarations Act, S. 2346, also known as the Fishery FUNDD Act, to reform the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA)’s relief program to hasten how quickly American fishermen receive U.S. disaster relief funds.
“I have met with local officials and seen firsthand how extensive flooding in Mississippi has created an economic and environmental emergency for my state and its coastal fisheries,” Sen. Wicker said. “Freshwater has devastated our seafood industry and spurred the growth of harmful algal blooms, which shut down our beaches, hurting tourism.”
If enacted, S. 2346 would streamline the fisheries disaster declaration process by requiring the U.S. Commerce Secretary to continue to determine the existence of a fishery disaster; to make funding available; to evaluate a request within a 120-day period; and to list the eligible uses of fishery disaster relief funds.
Among other provisions, the bill also would allow for disaster funding to go directly to members of the fishing community.
The bill is now under consideration by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.