Representatives Barney Frank and John Tierney have introduced legislation that includes funding for fishermen's health care. If the legislation is passed, fishermen from around the country will have the opportunity to research and plan, implement, and run health care coverage programs in their communities.
The fishermen's health care language is referenced in H.R. 4940 from the Second Session of the 109th Congress. Please see H.R. 4940, Section 4(e), "Fishing Industry Health Care Coverage Demonstration Program".
Now is the time for action! The fishermen's health care program is one small section in one version of the Magnuson-Stevens Act Reauthorization. Regardless of what happens with this bill, we cannot allow fishermen's health care to get lost in the larger debate over the legislation.
Please write a letter today to fax to your U.S. Congressmen and U.S. Senators to tell them that fishing families need health care coverage and that you support H.R. 4940 Section 4(e), "Fishing Industry Health Care Coverage Demonstration Program". Please ask for this language to be included in the final version of the Magnuson-Stevens Act Reauthorization.
For more information, and to help spread the word, download this PDF written by J.J. Bartlett, President of the Fishing Partnership Health Plan. You can help provide health care coverage for all fishing families in the United States!