December 31, 2020 — The COVID-19 relief bill signed into law this week includes hundreds of millions of dollars more for the fishing industry.
That legislation appropriates nearly $900 billion for COVID-19 aid and was part of the consolidated measure passed by Congress this month and signed by the president this week.
It will mean another payment of $300 million for fishery assistance nationwide. That mirrors the amount in the first stimulus bill from earlier in the year. Alaska Republican Dan Sullivan says the money will help Alaskans in the industry.
“Of course the Alaska fishing community in my view needs this very significantly, which is why we put it in the CARES Act originally — and this is just a plus up to that exact program,” Sullivan said in a teleconference with reporters before Christmas.
Alaska permit holders and companies could see a total of $50 million from the CARES Act in March, and this new bill will mean additional payments.