Executive freezes in communications and grant processing at CDC/NIOSH means funding for our Alaska commercial fishing safety programs could end on July 1, 2025, and funding for our West Coast, Gulf, and Southeast U.S. programs could end on September 1st, 2025.
As you know, AMSEA Training is Essential. AMSEA is the only source in Alaska for required Emergency Drill Conductor training for commercial fishermen and the largest provider of commercial fishing safety training in the nation. This means that without funding, many fishermen will soon be out of compliance with USCG safety regulation. When AMSEA’s commercial fishing safety program began in 1985, 250 fishing vessels and 75 fishermen’s lives were lost each year. 30 years later, with hundreds to thousands trained annually by AMSEA in marine safety and survival and in collaboration with dedicated USCG efforts, fatalities have been lowered by over 80%. Vessels still experience many capsizes and vessel disasters, however fishermen now survive these emergencies daily. AMSEA’s marine safety training infrastructure took decades to build. Its loss would have detrimental effects to the safety of Alaska boaters and fishermen across the nation.
From a financial perspective, the return on investment on this funding annually is millions of dollars to one dollar spent. The proven reduction in fatalities, injuries, and vessel disasters from marine safety training saves the USCG millions to billions annually in expensive rescue operations and saves the U.S. millions in other expenses for work related injury and death.
We are reaching out to our state of Alaska Congressional Delegation with the following requests:
Please help us advocate for an immediate end in the freeze of grant processing and communications at CDC/NIOSH.
Please advocate for continued $6 million in congressional appropriations for the USCG/NIOSH Commercial Fishing Safety Research & Training Program.
Please advocate for continued $29 million in congressional appropriations for the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing line in the NIOSH budget. This is the source of funding for the NIOSH Training Project Grants.
If you would like to make phone calls to Your Member of Congress:
Call the Capitol Hill switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
A switchboard operator will connect you directly with the House or Senate office you request based on your state or zip code. Share your address so you can be logged as a constituent in your state.
Once connected, share your name, the request, and why AMSEA is important to you/ how you are impacted. Share your address so you can be logged as a constituent in your state.
Thank you for your support!
Leann Cyr, PhD, AMSEA Executive Director
Check out our March Newsletter for more information.
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