BOSTON — March 23, 2013 — Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., stepped into the fray to bring relief to Northeast fishermen, introducing her first Senate amendment in the form of a disaster assistance fund for fishermen.
"The fishing industry is an important part of our region's economy," Warren said Friday, "and I'm proud to introduce my first Senate amendment to help make sure these hard-working fishing families have access to the critical disaster assistance they deserve."
In September, the U.S. commerce secretary declared a disaster in the Northeast Groundfish Fishery, on the grounds that several key fish stocks, including cod, are not rebuilding.
The declaration makes it possible to appropriate money to help downtrodden fishermen. But Democratic efforts to attach $150 million in aid to the Hurricane Sandy relief bill were eviscerated by congressional Republicans, leaving the disaster without aid.
Attached to the Senate budget, Warren's amendment would establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to provide disaster assistance for commercial fishery failures.
A Warren aide said the Senate has already agreed to $150 million for fisheries relief, an amount that could finance the fund.
The amendment is co-sponsored by Warren's Massachusetts colleague, Sen. William Cowan, along with six other Northeastern coastal state senators.
Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard Times