ASA Government Affairs Committee Highlights Our Industry on Capitol Hill

Last week, the American Sportfishing Association’s (ASA’s) Government Affairs committee held its annual spring meeting in Washington, D.C. The meeting offered leaders in the sportfishing industry the chance to discuss the top policy issues affecting sportfishing and engage with members of Congress.

During the committee’s general session, several of the issues discussed include NOAA’s proposed right whale vessel speed rule, the Pacific coast salmon season setting process, shark depredation and offshore wind development. Additionally, the committee discussed the current status of this year’s Farm Bill and where things stand with the recently reintroduced Recovering America’s Wildlife Act and America’s Outdoor Recreation Act.

Following the general session, attendees traveled to Capitol Hill and met with a bipartisan group of members of Congress and congressional staffers that serve on various committees that oversee fisheries, natural resources and conservation policies. In total, the government affairs committee members met with Representatives John Rutherford (R-Fla.), Rob Wittman (R-Va.) and Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) as well as staffers from the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

ASA concluded the trip to Congress by cohosting a reception with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation a short walk from the U.S. Capitol, which was attended by approximately 100 individuals including members of Congress, congressional staff, partner organizations and other sportfishing industry leaders.

“Our annual spring government affairs committee meeting is always productive and I’m grateful to the ASA members who take the time to come to D.C. and engage in our policy agenda,” said ASA Vice President of Government Affairs Mike Leonard. “The meeting led to a robust conversation on our priorities and the future of sportfishing. Our visit to Capitol Hill is an incredible opportunity for the sportfishing industry to interact with Congressional leaders, and we would like to thank Representatives Rutherford, Wittman and Grijalva for speaking with us, as well as the staffers from the Senate Commerce and Agriculture committees that stopped by.”

The meeting concluded on Friday with further briefings on ASA’s current policies and a discussion on future legislative and regulatory goals.

The ASA Government Affairs Committee is comprised of over 30 individuals, representing a wide array of industry members from across the country. The committee meets twice a year to discuss key legislative and regulatory issues affecting the industry and to guide ASA’s positions and activities regarding these issues.