Duval Times

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Rick Scott and a group of senators have sent a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), urging the implementation of the Fishery Resource Disasters Improvement Act (FREDI) to improve the fishery disaster assistance process. The letter, signed by Senators Roger Wicker, Marco Rubio, and Bill Cassidy, highlights the need for increased transparency and user experience in the application for relief.

The Fishery Resource Disasters Improvement Act (FREDI) aims to address the frustrations faced by stakeholders and policymakers in the fishery disaster assistance process. Prior to the enactment of FREDI, it was difficult to track the progress of a disaster assistance request through NOAA's online system. However, under FREDI, NOAA now has clear deadlines for decision-making and data submission, which stakeholders eagerly await.

In their letter to Janet Coit, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries at NOAA, the senators emphasize the importance of stakeholders understanding and tracking the step-by-step process for a fishery disaster request. They propose that stakeholders should be able to follow the process from data submission to decisions made by NOAA and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), similar to tracking packages during shipping.

To facilitate this tracking, the senators request that NOAA update its website to allow stakeholders to track the progress of a disaster request as it moves through each division of NOAA and OMB. In cases where a public-facing webpage is not feasible, the senators request that NOAA provide substantive replies to all inquiries from applicants and stakeholders, including information such as the current status of the request, the division of NOAA responsible for the review, the expected review time for each stage, and the next steps in the review process.

Additionally, the senators request that within 30 days of receiving their letter, NOAA transmit a flow chart and memorandum detailing the disaster assistance request review process under FREDI. These documents should outline the involvement of each office or division at NOAA, the expected timeline for each office's review, their role in the disaster assistance review process, and the best point of contact.

The senators express their anticipation of receiving this information and emphasize their commitment to improving the transparency and efficiency of the fishery disaster assistance process.

This call for increased transparency and user experience in the fishery disaster assistance process highlights the senators' dedication to addressing the frustrations faced by stakeholders and policymakers. By implementing the Fishery Resource Disasters Improvement Act (FREDI) and providing clear deadlines and tracking mechanisms, NOAA can restore confidence and faith in the fishery disaster assistance process.

To find out more, go to this link: https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2023/12/sen-rick-scott-colleagues-to-noaa-implement-the-fredi-act-increase-transparency-for-disaster-relief