2nd Mass. lawmaker to push for fishermen aid

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BOSTON (AP) — A second Massachusetts congressman is pushing the House to amend a disaster relief bill to massively increase emergency funds for fishermen.

Rep. Bill Keating says he'll propose lawmakers redirect $111 million in a Superstorm Sandy relief bill from a weather satellite program to fishermen from the Northeast, Gulf Coast and Alaska.

He says in a letter to House colleagues Thursday that the weather program's deficiencies should be addressed in different legislation. Meanwhile, he said, the historic fishing industry is facing a crisis, as catch reductions loom.

On Wednesday, Rep. John Tierney said he'd push for $150 million for fishermen in the House bill.

Tierney and Keating were responding to a House committee that said it was forwarding legislation providing fishermen $5 million, at most.

The Senate still has its say on any disaster relief bill.