This bill expands existing federal grant programs that support fishing safety training and research to explicitly include mental and physical health concerns affecting commercial fishermen. Specifically, the legislation requires that safety training programs address substance use disorder and worker fatigue among fishing vessel operators and crew members, and directs research grants to focus on understanding and reducing these behavioral and physical health risks. The bill increases funding for both programs from $3 million annually (as of fiscal year 2023) to $6 million per year for fiscal years 2025 through 2029, with grants administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on a competitive basis in consultation with the Coast Guard. This measure affects commercial fishing workers and the organizations that train and support them, representing a significant expansion of federal focus on health and wellness in an industry historically concentrated on maritime safety and weather-related hazards.
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