SC Alaska News

H.R. 5103, known as the Fishery Improvement to Streamline Untimely Regulatory Hurdles Post Emergency-Situation Act (FISHES) Act, has been signed into law. The legislation, co-sponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan of Alaska, aims to improve the federal process for distributing fishery disaster relief following declarations of such disasters. Additionally, the delegation secured $300 million to replenish the U.S. Department of Commerce’s fishery disaster assistance account through the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act.

Senator Murkowski emphasized the importance of this legislation for Alaska's fishermen who face significant challenges due to delays in receiving disaster funding. "This legislation has been signed into law at a truly critical time for Alaska’s fishermen, who are in dire need of assistance," she stated. She noted that these delays have forced many fishermen to change careers or leave the state entirely.

Senator Sullivan highlighted the difficulties faced by Alaska's fishing industry over recent years due to numerous fishery disasters across the state. He remarked on the necessity of timely relief: "While relief dollars have been crucial to providing relief to our fishermen, in too many instances, the relief has taken far too long to get approved and reach impacted Alaskans."

The FISHES Act specifically targets improvements in federal regulatory processes related to fishery disaster relief funding within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). It introduces a 30-day decision requirement for OMB regarding a state's spending plan approval or denial, which is intended to expedite overall federal fishery disaster relief funding.