The seafood promotions program fund was only a small part of the $1.1 billion relief bill for the seafood industry on the Gulf Coast.  The addition came about during a committee debate by Sen. Richard Shelby of AL.

Sen. Coburn still has more amendments remaining, and is optimistic he’ll prevail on some of them.  Some of the funding he plans to eliminate includes a bill provision to give Ingles Shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss up to $500 million in compensation for business disruption caused by Hurricane Katrina.  If they were to receive federal money, their insurers could be let off the hook, leaving taxpayers with the burden.  He is also trying to kill a $230 million fund going to the procurement costs for three unrequested V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft.