Rep. Schrader Secures Unprecedented $35 Million for Oregon Fisheries and Tribes During Pandemic

Press Release

Rep. Schrader today confirmed the release of tens of millions of dollars for Oregon's fisheries. Funds that Rep. Schrader advocated for in separate letters sent last month to the United States Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA).

"The funds released today in response to my advocacy on behalf of Oregon's fisheries and tribes is unprecedented in the history of our state", said Rep. Schrader. "Nearly $19 million in Congressionally- appropriated disaster relief funds for West Coast fisheries that I have been fighting to have released are finally in the rightful hands of our fisheries and tribes. In addition, $16 million dollars were finally released to Oregon fisheries and tribes as part of a $300 million-dollar fisheries relief fund in the bipartisan CARES Act. Oregon's commercial and recreational fisheries generate over $750 million in sales and thousands of jobs and have been severely impacted by COVID-19. These funds will allow our fisheries to continue to operate safely and will protect countless jobs in Oregon. I am proud to represent so many of America's fisheries and tribes and will continue to advocate for them during this pandemic."

Rep. Schrader sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross on April 1st, 2020, asking him to expedite the final approval of the West Coast and Tribal Fisheries Disaster Grant. On April 17th, Rep. Schrader led a letter to NOAA urging them to protect his constituents in the fishing industry during the Coronavirus pandemic. On May 7th, Rep. Schrader led a letter to House leadership requesting that Congress appropriate $2 billion for federal seafood purchases and $1.5 billion in additional direct assistance to fishery participants. He has led multiple letters and endlessly advocated on behalf of Oregon's fisheries and tribal communities during these unprecedented times.

Source