Congressmen Bill Keating and John Tierney plan to introduce to the House Rules Committee tomorrow two amendments with similar goals: to increase relief funding for fisheries impacted by Hurricane Sandy.
Representative Keating will introduce an amendment seeking to increase relief funding to $116 million. The amendment will do so by redirecting $111 million included within Sandy relief legislation originally reserved for weather satellite funding. Speaking in this regard, the Congressman explained, "The $111 million allotted for that [weather satellite funding] should be given to our fishermen now, where it is needed most urgently. The weather satellite program should be addressed in comprehensive legislation that provides the full resources it needs."
According to a Dear Colleague letter released by Congressman Keating, the proposed $116 million in relief funds would benefit all states and territories affected by Hurricane Sandy – New York, New Jersey, Mississippi, Alaska, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and American Samoa.
Congressman John Tierney will also introduce a similar amendment to the Rules Committee tomorrow. Representative Tierney's amendment will propose that fisheries relief funds be increased from the $5 million allocation already approved by the House to $150 million. In a press release sent yesterday, the Congressman explains, "My amendment takes responsible steps to increase the funds for fisheries disaster relief from $5 million to $150 million – the amount approved by the Senate on a bipartisan basis. The $5 million suggested by House Republicans is insufficient, and we can and should do better."
Though the amendments will be introduced separately, both Congressmen have indicated their intent to offer support for each other's proposals.
Read the Dear Colleague Letter released by Congressman Bill Keating
Read the press release from Congressman John Tierney