American Sportfishing Association

June 4, 2008, Alexandria, VA—On Tuesday, June 3, 2008, Representative Norm Dicks (D-WA), a life-long supporter of conservation efforts, was honored during an evening reception in the Senate Caucus Room on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as part of the National Fishing and Boating Week celebrations which took place nationwide June 1-8. Approximately 300 people attended the reception.

The sportfishing and boating community recognized Rep. Dicks’ decades of commitment to the nation’s natural resources, most specifically for his support in salmon recovery efforts in the Northwest. He has also provided funding and support for the development of the Puget Sound Hatchery Reform Study.

Rep. Dicks’ 32-year career in public service began when he joined the staff of Senator Warren G. Magnuson, one of the original authors of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Rep. Dicks has served 16 terms representing Washington state's 6th Congressional District. During his Congressional tenure, Rep. Dicks received a rare first-term appointment to the House Appropriations Committee where he currently serves as the third-ranking member of that Committee. He is also Chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee which places him in a leadership position on federal environmental and natural resource policies.

Mike Nussman, president and CEO, American Sportfishing Association, praised Rep. Dicks during the Tuesday night reception. “From his beginnings as a first term member of the House Appropriations Committee, Norm Dicks has never forgotten the role that fishery resources and recreational fishing plays in his state and in the fabric of communities and people’s lives.” Nussman further said, “Throughout his time as a legislator, Representative Dicks has been a great advocate for the angling and boating communities. He has transformed his passion for fishing into achievements for fishery resources.”

In his remarks, Rep. Dicks professed his life-long devotion to fishing which was fostered by the many fishing trips he took as a child with both his mother and father. Rep. Dicks also said how important it is to continue to provide funding to ensure that our nation’s fisheries remain strong and healthy and how proud he is to play a role in seeing that happens.

Items for the evening’s raffle were donated by Shimano American Corporation, St. Croix Rods, Lowrance-Navico and Float Tech, Inc.

On June 3, 2008, during National Fishing and Boating Week, Representative Norm Dicks of Washington state, second from left, was honored for his support of our nation’s natural resources. From left, Frank Peterson, president and CEO, Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation; Rep. Dicks; Scott Gudes, vice president, Government Affairs, National Marine Manufacturers Association; and Mike Nussman, president and CEO, American Sportfishing Association.

The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade association, committed to looking out for the interests of the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry a unified voice, speaking out on behalf of sportfishing and boating industries, state and federal natural resource agencies, conservation organizations, angler advocacy groups and outdoor journalists when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. We invest in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous as well as safeguard and promote the enduring economic and conservation values of sportfishing in America. ASA also represents the interests of America’s 40 million anglers who generate over $45 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for over one million people.