Secretary Bryson originally committed to join Kerry in the state during Bryson's confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, where Kerry serves as a senior member.
 
"On his first day in office after his confirmation, Secretary Bryson reiterated his commitment to me at our meeting and at his hearing to come to Massachusetts right away, hear from our fishermen, and follow up with me," said Sen. Kerry.  "The Secretary assured me that he will be joining me in Massachusetts as soon as he deals with some immediate obligations in China and other international economic commitments that will have him on the road non-stop throughout November.  We are finalizing a date for a visit in early December.  Obviously had his confirmation -- which passed by an overwhelmingly bipartisan margin -- not been held up so long, I'm confident we'd already have gotten this Massachusetts trip under our belt.  Until the visit in December, I'm going to continue working every day in close contact with the Administration on outstanding requests I've pressed in the past year and particularly following our field hearing in Boston. I think I'm making headway.  Priority number one is the disaster declaration but every piece matters.  I'll stay at it, and I think the Secretary's visit can be constructive."
 
Following the field hearing Senator Kerry chaired in Boston on the state of the fishing industry earlier this month, the Senator sent a letter to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Administer Dr. Jane Lubchenco urging detailed, specific actions to keep Massachusetts fishermen in business and ensure the short- and long-term health of this critical local economy.  

Read the Senator's letter to Dr. Jane Lubchenco