Senate approves flood forecasting, fisheries aid bills

The Senate has signed off on legislation that would require NOAA to distribute disaster aid to distressed fisheries more quickly.

State officials and Capitol Hill lawmakers have complained that it can take as long as three years for federal aid to find its way to states after it's approved by Congress.

Under a bill cleared by the Senate on a voice vote Thursday, the Commerce secretary, who oversees NOAA, would have only 120 days to evaluate a request for aid made under NOAA's fishery resource disaster relief program.

The bill, S. 2923, called the "Fishery Resource Disasters Improvement Act," is sponsored by the top two leaders of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee: Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and ranking member Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)

When the bill was introduced in March, Cantwell said her state still had several pending fishery disaster determinations and that decisions needed to be made in a reasonable time frame: “Fishermen are tired of waiting,” she said (E&E Daily, March 18).

At the same time, Wicker said flooding in his state had resulted in an environmental emergency and that the legislation was needed "to expedite the process by which fishermen receive disaster relief. "

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), chair of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife, and Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) introduced a companion bill, H.R. 5453, in the House last week.

Separately, the Senate last week also approved S. 558 to create a national integrated flood information system within NOAA. Wicker's bill seeks to improve flood watches and warnings, and would encourage partnerships with educational institutions.

 

 

By:  Rob Hotakainen
Source: E&E Daily

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