For 17 years, Laine Welch has covered the Alaska "fish beat" for print and broadcast. She also has worked in seafood processing, and "behind the counter" in retail and wholesale seafood businesses. Before coming to Alaska in 1986, Laine was well known in New England for her daily radio broadcasts of fish prices and landings at auctions in Boston and New Bedford, MA. Laine's goal is to make all people aware of the economic and social importance of the seafood industry to Alaska and the nation - from harvesters and business professionals, to those who simply eat fish occasionally. Also read Laine's Fish Factor column
May 18th
Fishermen are urging Congress to support health care for U.S. fishing familiesFishermen are urging Congress to support health care for U.S. fishing families.
As the nation's top fisheries law - the Maguson Stevens Act - is being retooled in Washington DC, fishermen from across the country are contacting lawmakers to make sure they include a plan to fund fishermen's health care.
"It's inspiring to see the stack of letters growing every day. Fishermen from every gear sector and every port in the country are writing to support this initiative and we really need to keep up this pressure." said JJ Bartlett of the Fishing Partnership Health Plan, which since 1997 has provided affordable health coverage to fishing families in Massachusetts. He says the proposed national plan calls for funding at three levels.
"The first level would be for research and strategic planning so the fishing community in each state would have the opportunity to gather demographic information on their fishing families, and create a plan suited to their state. The next level is for implementation of the plan, and the third tier is for ongoing operation. It is a gradual progression of funding that would allow every U.S. fishing family the opportunity to research, plan and then run a health care program in their own state."
Bartlett says it's critical to keep your eye on the prize during the legislative process
"The MSA reauthorization is going to be a long and extremely complicated process. We want to make sure that we're focused on the goal which is insisting that the Fishing Industry Health Care Coverage Demonstration Program - HR 4940 section 4 (e) - is included in the final version of the MSA."
Bartlett says fishing groups need to keep up the pressure
"We want every fishing family in the U.S. to let their congressmen know how important health care is to their families. If we all work together on this we can get it done."
Don't forget to listen to Laine Welch's Fish Radio
