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Sportfishing Industry Applauds Passage of Federal Funding Bill

 Feb 16th, 2019 by sworrall 

Modified Feb 16th, 2019 at 10:05 PM

Numerous industry priorities reflected in final measure

Alexandria, VA – February 15, 2019 – The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) expressed its strong support for the passage of the 2019 Consolidated Appropriations Act which provides funding for the remainder of fiscal year 2019 for nine federal agencies, including the Departments of Commerce and the Interior.

“We are pleased that President Trump and Congressional leaders were able to come to an agreement that avoids another shutdown and ensures that federal programs critical to the recreational fishing industry continue to be funded,” said Mike Leonard, ASA’s vice president of Government Affairs. “This measure contains a wide range of funding improvements related to fisheries management, conservation and public access.”

For more information on ASA’s appropriations priorities, nearly all of which were enacted in the final bill, see ASA’s press release from June 15, 2018.

“The recreational fishing community fared extremely well in this spending bill,” continued Leonard. “From tackling Asian carp and other invasive species, to enhanced marine fisheries science and data collection, to Sen. Richard Shelby’s (R-Ala.) tireless efforts to improve Gulf red snapper management, the health of our nation’s fisheries and the industry that depends on them will see significant boosts because of this bill.”