05-05-2006, 07:49 PM
WASHINGTON, D.C.—As the U.S. Senate prepares to debate the latest Hurricane Katrina relief aid bill, fishermen in Louisiana and Mississippi are pinning their hopes on an ambitious $1.1 billion aid plan by Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Shelby’s hurricane relief measure includes:
$300 million to rebuild destroyed marinas, piers, docks, wharves and warehouses that support the recreational and commercial fishing industry.
$300 million to help replace fishing equipment and infrastructure, including icehouses and processing facilities.
$100 million to help fishermen and seafood workers clean up and repair damaged facilities.
$100 million to pay for the rehabilitation of oyster beds and shrimp grounds.
The Senate committee last month approved a $106.5 billion measure that combines $27.1 billion in aid for hurricane victims with $72.4 billion for the war in Iraq and other terrorism-fighting efforts. Shelby’s plan won approval by the committee with a voice vote and minimal debate, but some lawmakers say it faces an uncertain future because the White House did not request the fisheries money when submitting its $19.8 billion relief plan in February.
Shelby’s fisheries aid is competing with add-ons such as money for education and port security, as well as the disaster aid for farmers. All were added to a measure drafted by the committee chairman, Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS).
Cochran had included $30 million for mapping the extent of underwater debris as a step toward making fishing grounds safe. An additional $15 million would go toward rehabilitating oyster beds, most of which were destroyed by Katrina.
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Shelby’s hurricane relief measure includes:
$300 million to rebuild destroyed marinas, piers, docks, wharves and warehouses that support the recreational and commercial fishing industry.
$300 million to help replace fishing equipment and infrastructure, including icehouses and processing facilities.
$100 million to help fishermen and seafood workers clean up and repair damaged facilities.
$100 million to pay for the rehabilitation of oyster beds and shrimp grounds.
The Senate committee last month approved a $106.5 billion measure that combines $27.1 billion in aid for hurricane victims with $72.4 billion for the war in Iraq and other terrorism-fighting efforts. Shelby’s plan won approval by the committee with a voice vote and minimal debate, but some lawmakers say it faces an uncertain future because the White House did not request the fisheries money when submitting its $19.8 billion relief plan in February.
Shelby’s fisheries aid is competing with add-ons such as money for education and port security, as well as the disaster aid for farmers. All were added to a measure drafted by the committee chairman, Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS).
Cochran had included $30 million for mapping the extent of underwater debris as a step toward making fishing grounds safe. An additional $15 million would go toward rehabilitating oyster beds, most of which were destroyed by Katrina.
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