WASHINGTON — February 28, 2014 — The following was released by the offices of Congressman Joe Courtney and Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy:
Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2) and Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will award $32,847,955 in disaster declaration funds to the New England Multispecies Groundfish Fishery. The funding, part of $75 million in congressionally-allocated assistance for nationwide fisheries disaster declarations, was authorized under the 2014 Omnibus Appropriations Act. The funding will go to Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York to support efforts to improve fish stocks and aid local fishing communities affected by reduced stocks.
“This funding will bolster shoreline communities that rely on fishing as a pillar of their local economies,” Congressman Courtney said. “Our fishing communities have complied time after time with revised federal requirements only to see their livelihoods slowly erode. I am pleased that the Administration has allocated this funding in a timely manner so that we may provide Connecticut fishermen the assistance they deserve and ensure the continuance of our state’s proud fishing tradition.”
“This funding is critical for Connecticut coastal communities and the small, family-owned businesses that make up our fishing community,” Senator Blumenthal said. “I applaud the Administration for awarding this funding without delay so Connecticut fishermen impacted by disaster can more quickly get back on their feet.”
“This funding will help Connecticut’s fishermen get back on their feet after several years of reduced catch shares,” Senator Murphy said. “Their livelihoods have been negatively impacted by this situation, which was entirely out of their control. There’s no doubt that this funding will help make these men and women whole, and I applaud NOAA for stepping up to support our local economies.”
Over the past two years, the Connecticut and New England congressional delegations have sent a series of letters in support of a disaster declaration and necessary funding to the House Appropriations Committee leadership, House and Senate Leadership, and President Obama. At the urging of Congress, funding recipients will have broad latitude in determining the most appropriate use of disaster funds. Such flexibility will allow states to adapt to specific business and community needs that vary from state to state. Funds will be used for activities that restore the fishery or prevent a similar failure in the future and to assist a fishing community affected by such failure.