Beto is living up to his promise to campaign in unlikely places and bring everyone in. Beto visited with a small fishing business to learn about the industry and its challenges from Tim Rider, owner and operator of New England Fishmongers www.seacoastonline.com/…
He is the only presidential candidate that has ever cared enough to show up and listen. He took the time to see what we do and what we’re up against. He earned a great deal of respect from me and my crew in the process.
We need a president who is willing to show up and listen -- someone who pays attention to the details -- someone who doesn’t just fight for the little guy,but who actively seeks out the stories of regular Americans who are struggling to keep up with a country that is moving away from them and toward corporate interests.
Another article about the visit, highlighting Beto's engagement www.unionleader.com/…
O’Rourke had lots of questions for Rider and Cox about the system and what they are doing to make sure they survive in an industry they love but that seems to be getting gobbled up around them.
O’Rourke said the government should respond to the needs of people like Rider, who faces regulations and policies that make it hard for him to survive as a small business owner.
Beto often uses his learning from interactions with people to build his plans, and this visit was no different. Here is a fact sheet on the Fisheries policy plan that Beto recently released htv-prod-media.s3.amazonaws.com/...
I've included the top line headers below and details on a couple of items, but please check out the link for all of the details in this comprehensive plan. I am impressed that this plan, like most of Beto's plans, is inter-related to his other plans on issues such as Trade and Climate. Beto is very good with his plans working in concert together rather than isolation.
- End the trade war with China
- Halt offshore drilling
- Invest in infrastructure and innovation
- Advance climate research into our oceans
- Protecting the small boat nature of industry.
Here are some specifics on Items #3 & #4. I really like the recognition of the importance of research and the tie in to his Climate Plan
● INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND INNOVATION: Bait remains the single largest cost for any fishery, and as current bait options like herring become less readily available , it’s important to invest in both research to develop alternative bait methods, as well infrastructure along the coastline to
ensure that existing bait can be kept alive and used when needed. Beto will double funding from $3.36 million to $6.72 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Small Business Innovation Research Program to help small businesses research and develop alternative bait methods. He’ll also increase the government’s share in funding for the public-private Fisheries Innovation Fund, as well as ensure that NOAA's Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program is continually funded to guarantee sustainable fisheries and increase other opportunities to keep working waterfronts viable.
● ADVANCE CLIMATE RESEARCH INTO OUR OCEANS: Climate change continues to have a profound effect on our oceans and as a result on U.S. fisheries. Beto will advance data collection in our nation’s ocean’s, pushing 20 percent of a $250 billion-plus investment toward the climate science needed to understand the changes to our oceans and our atmosphere. Beyond that, he’ll continue to implement NOAA’s Fisheries Climate Science Strategy and guarantee continued funding for NOAA’s Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Grant Program to integrate technology into fisheries data collection and ensure that the federal government and local fishermen are on the same page in regards to what’s occurring in our oceans.
Here is some information on the importance of Aquaculture:
Aquaculture in the United States represents a major industry, accounting for $5.4 billion in total value and made up of 9.9 billion pounds of fish and shellfish in 2017. New England, including New Hampshire’s 18 miles of coastline, commercial fishing supports tens of thousands of jobs and annual landings in the region are valued at over $1 billion.
I'm glad Beto continues to show up.
Please check out Beto’s vision and plans at BetoORourke.com and donate to his campaign, which is powered by people, not PACs or special interests or corporations.
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