NE fishermen shut out of House disaster aid bill

BOSTON (AP) -- The U.S. House of Representatives has shut out Northeast fishermen from any emergency aid in its pending disaster relief bill.

The Republican-led House advanced its Superstorm Sandy relief bill Monday without voting on amendments that would have inserted between $116 million and $150 million in fishing industry funding.

Massachusetts Rep. John Tierney called the decision "callous and outrageous."

Northeast fishermen became eligible for federal aid last year after a national fishery disaster was declared in the region, due to the slow recovery of fish stocks.

The Senate version of the bill, passed in the last Congress, included $150 million for fishermen in the Northeast, Gulf Coast and Alaska. The House bill didn't include significant money.

The Senate still has a say after the House bill passes, but prospects are uncertain.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ne-fishermen-shut-house-disaster-180847992.html

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