22 



Mr. Poshard. Mr. Chairman, I certainly am committed to work- 

 ing with you in doing what can be done and researching whatever 

 other programs, as well as looking at this. 



I know in the case of our coal-mining communities and so on for 

 our people, there were job retraining funds and there were some 

 economic injury funds for some of the small businesses and that 

 sort of thing. 



So I would be happy to work with you in doing whatever I can 

 to a help address the needs of your constituents. 



Chairman Torkildsen. I thank the gentleman for his offer of 

 help and for his understanding. Having been through a very sud- 

 den economic downturn also caused by regulation in your own com- 

 munity, I think you can bring experience to it that perhaps would 

 not be readily understood by someone who had not gone through 

 the same experience. 



I don't want to rehash the same issues. Mr. Kulik did state the 

 SBA's position, and he is stating the SBA's position, and I don't 

 dispute that is their position. I do happen to disagree with it and 

 will be asking for the SBA to look again for some way to help in 

 a disaster mechanism for these families who have been affected. 



At the same time, today I will be proposing an amendment to a 

 reauthorization to allow the SBA to offer disaster assistance when 

 a governmental action or decision has caused the severe con- 

 sequences that were experienced up in Massachusetts today. 



With that, if there are no further questions from members of the 

 Subcommittee, I would like to thank all of the witnesses for their 

 testimony and would like to ask the second panel to please come 

 forward. Thank you very much for your remarks. 



Our second panel is comprised of witnesses who are very much 

 involved in the day-to-day activities of the fishing industry in Mas- 

 sachusetts. 



Vito Calomo is Executive Director of the Fisheries Commission in 

 Gloucester, Massachusetts; Jim Kendall is Executive Director of 

 the New Bedford Seafood Coalition; Larry Ciulla is from Star Fish- 

 eries; and Corrado Buccheri is from BNN Fishing Gear in Glouces- 

 ter, Massachusetts. 



As with our first panel of witnesses, if I could ask you to summa- 

 rize your testimony, your written statement will appear in its en- 

 tirety in the record. That will leave us time for questions. 



Vito Calomo, you will be our first witness. Please proceed with 

 your testimony. 



TESTIMONY OF VITO CALOMO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, 

 FISHERIES COMMISSION, GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS 



Mr. Calomo. Thank you, Chairman Torkildsen. 



Welcome aboard, Congressman Jackson. 



Chairman Torkildsen. If I could ask you to pull the mike up to 

 you so we can record you. 



Mr. Calomo. You will hear me. 



During President Clinton's first campaign to the White House, he 

 said this great country of ours was formulated from small family 

 neighborhood businesses on each corner of our great American 

 cities and towns. America's small businesses have continued to be 

 the strength of our great economy. 



