WASHINGTON – 12-28-12 – The U.S. Senate passed a $60 billion disaster relief bill Friday that includes funding to support struggling groundfishing fleets in Maine and other Northeastern states.
On a 60-35 vote, senators defeated an attempt to strip $150 million in funding for four federally designated fisheries disasters — including the Northeast groundfishery — from the larger relief bill for mid-Atlantic states that were hit by Hurricane Sandy in October.
Maine's Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe voted to maintain the fisheries funding.
The bill now goes to the Republican-controlled House, where it could face stronger opposition because of its size and scope.
Read the complete story from The Press Herald.
Read the relevant section of the Disaster Assistance Supplemental Appropriations Bill that passed the Senate. Note that it includes the $150m for the 2012 fishery disaster declarations.