CONGRESSMAN
COLLIN C. PETERSON
Minnesota
- 7th District
http://www.house.gov/collinpeterson/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 8, 2000
CONTACT: Steve Bekkerus @ 202-225-2165
CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN’S CAUCUS
COMMEMORATES “NATIONAL FISHING WEEK”
(Washington D.C.) –
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC), chaired by Congressman
Collin C. Peterson (D-MN), recognized America’s anglers this week in honor
of National Fishing Week. The CSC champions the rights of anglers before Congress, and
educates the public about the benefits anglers and sportsmen provide to the
outdoors.
According to Peterson, as the
largest caucus on Capitol Hill, the CSC is a powerful advocate on issues of
importance to anglers. The CSC
has actively worked on legislation benefiting anglers and the nations
waterways, such as reforming the administration of the Dingell-Johnson
Sport Fish Restoration Act.
Peterson most recently used his
leadership role in Congress to highlight the problem caused by the exploding
population of fish-eating cormorants, which have devastated commercial and
recreational sportfishing. Peterson
sponsored legislation to establish a hunting season for the birds, an action
that finally prompted the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to act.
Peterson and the CSC were also successful in getting the FWS to
expand its field hearings on cormorants to more rural areas directly
affected by the birds, such as Lake of the Woods, Minnesota.
In honor of National Fishing
Week, the CSC recently welcomed Mike Hayden of the American Sportfishing
Association to brief Members of Congress on issues such as the Fishable
Waters Act, the recent Presidential Executive Order imposing a total ban on
sportfishing in certain coastal areas, and the need for repair of national
fish hatcheries.
“National Fishing Week helps
remind the public and Congress that the greatest impact on the quality of
our waterways often comes from the stewardship of our fishermen and
women,” stated Peterson. “Anglers
quickly develop a common instinct to protect our natural resources.
I encourage everyone to take pleasure in this time-honored tradition,
and hopefully, experience the thrill of reeling in a fish or two.”
National Fishing Week began in 1979 by Congress to focus public attention on the lifestyle benefits of fishing, recreational fishing opportunities and aquatic resource stewardship responsibilities.
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