Donalds Bill Expediting Fishery Disaster Relief Passes House

A bipartisan bill introduced by Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) expediting the allocation of disaster relief to the nation's fisheries has passed the House with broad bipartisan support.

Named the "Fishery Improvement to Streamline untimely regulatory Hurdles post-Emergency Situation (FISHES)" Act, Rep. Donalds' bill would streamline the regulatory process of allocating disaster relief to fisheries throughout the United States.

"Following Hurricane Ian, Southwest Florida's seafood industry incurred catastrophic devastation, and its impact still persists. Waterways are the lifeblood of our economy and our community. It has always been my commitment to advocate for the vitality of water—which ultimately benefits countless families, businesses, and the overall development of the Sunshine State. I am proud to receive the broad, bipartisan support of my colleagues on this critical proposal and look forward to its successful passage on the floor of the United States Senate," said the Florida Congressman in his press release.

House Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman (R-AR) added, "During a natural disaster, time can often be the difference between life and death. For our nation's fisheries, delays in disaster requests can cause catastrophic destruction to these vital resources and coastal communities. Today, we passed Congressman Donalds' FISHES Act which will create timelines for disaster requests to ensure our fisheries can be supported when natural disasters strike. I'd like to thank Congressman Donalds for his leadership on this issue for all Americans."

Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has introduced the Senate companion bill with Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK).

Florida Congressional delegates have prioritized disaster relief since October when the Sunshine State experienced two powerful hurricanes, Helene and Milton, back-to-back in two weeks.

For instance, earlier in October, ahead of Milton, Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) spearheaded a letter demanding the Department of Agriculture deploy Farm Service Agency (FSA) personnel to aid farmers recovering from the storm and navigate USDA relief programs.

Later that month, Representative Greg Steube (R-FL) called to expedite his Clean Up DEBRIS bill to improve common-interest communities' access to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) debris removal assistance.

Finally, Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) introduced a bill near the end of November that provides tax relief to hurricane victims. The bill allows individuals who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to use their 2023 income to file for 2024's tax season, meaning their taxes will not be modified based on the loss suffered due to the recent storms.