THE FLORIDA SENATE COMMITTEES:

General Government Appropriations, Vice Chair

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100 Banking and Insurance
Governmental Operations - Policy and Steering
Governmental Oversight and Accountability
Health Regulation
Reapportionment
Rules
Ways and Means - Policy and Steering

SELECT COMMITTEE:
Florida's Inland Waters, Vice Chair

SENATOR ALFRED “AL” LAWSON, JR. JOINT COMMITTEE:

Legislative Budget Commission
Democratic Leader
6th District

PRESS ADVISORY
Contact: Melissa Durham
July 9, 2010
(850) 487-5004

TALLAHASSEE - Responding to the growing frustration of fishermen and other

residents of Franklin and Wakulla Counties interested in participating in BP's Vessels
of Opportunity program to protect the Florida Panhandle from the approaching oil
disaster, Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson (D-Tallahassee) is organizing an
informational session this Wednesday. On hand to assist those experiencing
difficulties in joining the clean up operation will be a team of BP representatives in
charge of the Vessels of Opportunity program, as well as officials from the Coast
Guard and Florida Wildlife Commission. Residents will have the opportunity to
express their concerns and to get first hand information on how to join the program,
receive training, and cut through the red tape and confusion many have complained of
encountering.

Senator Lawson will be hosting the meeting on Wednesday, July 14th, from 4 p.m.
until 6 p.m. at the Franklin County Courthouse Annex, 34 Forbes Street,
Apalachicola, Florida. Any local residents with concerns about the Vessels of
Opportunity program are strongly encouraged to attend.

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REPLY TO:
 228 Senate Office Building, 404 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100 (850) 487-5004

Senate’s Website: www.flsenate.gov

JEFF ATWATER MIKE FASANO

President of the Senate President Pro Tempore