 Announce Help For Alaska Fishing Industry August 02, 2002
Senators Frank Murkowski and Ted Stevens hailed the anticipated passage of the Trade Act of 2002, which will grant the President the authority to establish trade agreements with
"This was a tough battle and a final victory for the President that is long overdue," Murkowski said. "I'm very pleased, because this bill will have benefits for the entire nation." "Beyond that," said Murkowski, "discussions on the effects of the trade bill allowed us to address problems unique to Alaska's fishing industry. I had an opportunity to explain our situation to the President at the White House on Wednesday, and the Administration has been very responsive." According to the news release, the agreement reached between Alaska's Senators and the White House includes commitments from Secretary of Commerce Don Evans and Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao. "I am pleased Secretaries Evans and Chao have recognized the severe economic distress facing Alaska's fishermen. These funds will spur economic development in Alaska's coastal communities, and more importantly train Alaskans to participate in new endeavors. I commend Frank's efforts to bring attention to the plight of our fisherman and his success in getting results for Alaska," said Senator Stevens. "We made it clear to the Department that Alaska's fishing industry may not fit the standard model and the Department is willing to work with us to design rules that will made the program accessible to Alaskans who need it, and will provide additional training money plus other types of financial support," said Murkowski. The agreement announced Thursday has several components: First, the Economic Development Administration (EDA), part of the Department of Commerce, will use approximately $2 million of Fiscal Year 2002 funds for hard-pressed Alaskan communities. This is the amount remaining in a special reserve fund for the current fiscal year, which ends September 30. The EDA will also oversee the creation of a special fund designed to help Alaska's fishing-dependent communities. The EDA will commit $15 million per year for fiscal years 2002-2005, and will support an additional $15 million per year in FY 2006 and 2007. The fund will provide jobs and economic opportunities throughout Alaska's coastal region, including small rural communities that have been hard-hit by the current crisis in the salmon industry. Stevens and Murkowski also said the White House and Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao have committed to support funding for job training programs at a level of $8 million per year through FY2007. This will provide much needed assistance for fishermen and processing workers who choose to seek new jobs, or need retraining to produce higher-value seafood products. Finally, the two Senators said the Labor Department has also agreed to work with Alaska's Congressional Delegation to permit Alaskan fishermen and fish processing workers to be eligible for a Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for workers program offered by the Department of Labor. Under the Department's current program rules, a firm with three or more workers that is negatively impacted by foreign competition may apply for assistance. The Labor Department TAA program
differs from a Department of Agriculture TAA program for fishermen
that was removed from the trade bill by a House-Senate conference
committee that wrote the final trade bill, but Murkowski said
it is a better deal for Alaskans. "It's far superior both
in the kinds of benefits and in the amount of benefits that will
be available," he said.
Source of News Release:
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