On the recordDecember 19, 2012
Yes, the Senator is exactly right. And it happened under both Democratic and Republican Senates. So this has been declared under President Bill Clinton, and we worked with his Secretaries of Commerce. This was done under George Bush, and Secretary Gutierrez, himself from a coastal State of Florida--we worked very well together because the appropriators and the Governors and the economy people have to work together with Senators. The answer is yes. Again, you cannot get fisheries disaster assistance unless it has been certified by the Secretary of Commerce in compliance with the criteria in current law.
