{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-commerce-advances-bill-to-reauthorize-the-young-fishermens-development-program", "Senate Commerce Advances Bill to Reauthorize the Young Fishermen\u2019s Development Program", "2025-10-22", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee yesterday advanced bipartisan legislation\u2014introduced by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in July\u2014to reauthorize the Young Fishermen\u2019s Development Program. The program, first authorized in law in 2021 for five years, seeks to mitigate the challenges and hurdles facing the next generation of entrants into the fishing industry. The senators\u2019 legislation would authorize $2 million annually through FY 2031 to support regional training opportunities and apprenticeship programs to support individuals building their early careers in the fishing industry.\n\n\u201cThe Young Fishermen\u2019s Development Program is the only federal program providing competitive funding to educate and train young fishermen and to prepare them for success in the fishing sector, which is critically important to Alaska\u2019s economy and our coastal communities,\u201d said Sen. Sullivan. \u201cOver the past four years, this vital program has delivered on its mandate\u2014helping to lower costs and barriers to entering the industry, expanding training opportunities, and empowering our fishermen to continue sustainably harvesting our world-class seafood. I thank my committee colleagues for standing with our fishermen and advancing this bill to strengthen our fleets and America\u2019s seafood industry.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Young Fisherman\u2019s Development Program ensures that we adequately support future generations of young fishermen in Massachusetts and in coastal communities across the nation,\u201d said Sen. Markey. \u201cThe fishing industry is a critical part of the Bay State\u2019s economy, but its barriers to entry are higher than ever. We must stand by the young men and women looking to build their careers by providing them with training and resources that allow them to get out on the water and feed the nation. I am proud to join my colleagues in celebrating the advancement of our reauthorization bill and look forward to bolstering future generations of fishermen from coast to coast.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe fishing industry is crucial to the economic success of coastal Mississippi,\u201d said Sen. Wicker. \u201cThe Young Fishermen\u2019s Development Act encourages future generations of anglers to take advantage of opportunities to perfect their skills. Fishermen of all ages should have the resources to be successful.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Young Fisherman\u2019s Development Act has helped the next generation of fishermen access the resources they need to keep Alaska seafood on America\u2019s table,\u201d said Sen. Murkowski. \u201cBy reauthorizing this legislation, we\u2019re providing more young Alaskans with hands-on training and financial resources to reduce the high barriers of entry that prevent the next generation from grabbing the helm. I thank Senator Sullivan for guiding this bill through committee and will continue working alongside my colleagues to bring this to the Senate floor.\u201d\n\nFishing employs more individuals than any other industry in Alaska. However, barriers\u2014such as high costs to enter a fishery, financial risk, and limited entry-level opportunities\u2014make it difficult for young men and women to gain access to the fishing industry.\n\nSpecifically, this legislation would:\n\nProvide training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for young fishermen entering the industry.\n\nAuthorize competitive grants to support new and established local and regional training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for young fishermen, including programs, workshops, and fishing related services.\n\nAuthorize $2 million annually for program funding through FY 2031.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-commerce-advances-bill-to-reauthorize-the-young-fishermens-development-program"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.908600864931941, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}