Senate and House Great Lakes Task Forces Urge Congress to Support Great Lakes Fisheries in Next COVID-19 Package

Press Release

The bipartisan Senate and House Great Lakes Task Forces today requested that tribal, commercial, charter and recreational fisheries in the Great Lakes be made eligible for future emergency funding provided by Congress because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter was led by Senators Debbie Stabenow (MI) and Rob Portman (OH), and Representatives Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), David Joyce (OH-14), and Bill Huizenga (MI-02).

Previous emergency packages, like the CARES Act, have provided money to help fisheries across the country, but the law has been interpreted so that fisheries in the Great Lakes basin do not qualify for assistance.

"As in the rest of the country, the economic calamity stemming from the pandemic is significantly harming our commercial, charter, recreational, and tribal fisheries. It is estimated that these fisheries and charter businesses have suffered up to $50 million in losses over the last few months," wrote the bipartisan group of lawmakers. "We support your efforts to help our nation's fisheries, tribes, and commercial and recreational fishing industries, and ask that you work with us to ensure any future coronavirus assistance is also available to our tribes and businesses in the Great Lakes basin."

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