2nd Mass. lawmaker to push for fishermen aid
2nd Massachusetts lawmaker to push for major increase in fishermen aid in House bill
BOSTON (AP) -- A second Massachusetts congressman is pushing the House to amend a disaster relief bill to massively increase emergency funds for fishermen.
Rep. Bill Keating says he'll propose lawmakers redirect $111 million in a Superstorm Sandy relief bill from a weather satellite program to fishermen from the Northeast, Gulf Coast and Alaska.
He says in a letter to House colleagues Thursday that the weather program's deficiencies should be addressed in different legislation. Meanwhile, he said, the historic fishing industry is facing a crisis, as catch reductions loom.
On Wednesday, Rep. John Tierney said he'd push for $150 million for fishermen in the House bill.
Tierney and Keating were responding to a House committee that said it was forwarding legislation providing fishermen $5 million, at most.
The Senate still has its say on any disaster relief bill.