WASHINGTON — Members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation today released the following statements in response to the most recent Secretarial Decision Memo by Commerce Secretary Gary Locke. Secretary Locke’s memo is attached.
SENATOR JOHN KERRY
“This is a step backwards, and it's unacceptable for Massachusetts. I'm troubled that not only are our fishermen being denied appropriate remedies, but they're being forced to pay fines before their cases are even reviewed. Our fishermen have been unbelievably patient under incredible economic pressure. They’ve come forward with fair, straightforward solutions to redress past wrong-doings by NOAA employees, and I am disappointed with the Secretary’s response. My colleagues and I will not stop working on this until there is a more just outcome for Massachusetts fishermen.”
CONGRESSMAN BARNEY FRANK
“This decision by the Secretary of Commerce is one more assault on the legitimate concerns of the fishing industry. We were not asking to intervene in the adjudicatory process. We requested that where that legal process has demonstrated and proven to be deeply flawed, individuals who have been intimidated from complaining now be given a chance to submit their cases for a wholly impartial review by a special master of the Secretary’s choosing.” “This refusal to offer a chance at justice to these individuals is another item on the list we will be presenting to the White House in our effort to get President Obama to have his appointed Secretary of Commerce to follow through on promises made last year and to demonstrate a genuine concern for the rights of people in the fishing industry.”
SENATOR SCOTT BROWN
“The latest decision by Secretary Locke represents the Commerce Department and NOAA’s ongoing effort to ignore past misdeeds by administration officials and move forward without compensating fishermen who were unfairly impacted,” said Senator Brown. “Fishermen should not be forced to pay such excessive fines until the Special Master has completed his investigation. If Commerce refuses to own up to its failings an independent investigation will be necessary to right the many wrongs our fishermen have suffered.”
CONGRESSMAN JOHN TIERNEY
“The Secretary’s latest action serves as further proof that a culture of ‘no’ has taken hold of the Department of Commerce. The Department is unwilling to make any reasonable effort to act in the best interest of our fishermen or our fishing economy,” Congressman Tierney said. “I will be taking this matter directly to the White House and feel certain a number of my colleagues will join the fight. We must take action to sustain proven industries that keep hard-working Americans employed, while bringing healthy nutrition to our families.”