Stakeholders Meet with Policymakers and Staffers on Day Two of ABC 2019
Yesterday, boating industry stakeholders gathered for the second day of American Boating Congress (ABC) 2019. The day began with a comprehensive briefing on issues that are top of mind for the industry: trade, recreation, conservation, and blue-green infrastructure. The morning session also included a panel on the recreational boating and fishing community’s successful efforts to get the Modern Fish Act passed into law late last year.
Before attendees set out to Capitol Hill for a day of meetings with lawmakers and Congressional staffers, the NMMA team provided a refresher on best practices and approaches for being an effective industry advocate. Throughout the day, stakeholders met with nearly 200 congressional offices, including the following members of Congress:
- Representative Austin Scott
- Representative Bill Keating
- Representative Billy Long
- Representative Brendan Boyle
- Representative Brian Mast
- Representative Bruce Westerman
- Representative Charlie Crist
- Representative Chris Pappas
- Representative Chuck Fleischmann
- Representative Daniel Webster
- Representative David Rouzer
- Representative Donald Payne
- Representative Garret Graves
- Representative Glenn Grothman
- Representative Haley Stevens
- Representative Jackie Walorski
- Representative Jim Banks
- Representative Jim Hagedorn
- Representative Jim Langevin
- Representative John Katko
- Representative John Moolenaar
- Representative Lloyd Doggett
- Representative Tim Burchett
- Senator Dan Sullivan
- Senator Doug Jones
- Senator Jack Reed
- Senator James Inhofe
- Senator Joseph Manchin
- Senator Marco Rubio
- Senator Tammy Baldwin
- Senator Thom Tillis
- Senator Todd Young
The day was capped off with a recreational boating and angling reception for BoatPAC supporters at District Winery at DC's historic Navy Yard, a bustling waterfront neighborhood with several boats in sight. Attendees had an opportunity to network with key Congressional figures, who also took the time to discuss top issues with their constituencies.
Today, our plenary session will feature a panel discussion with Bret Baier, FOX News chief political anchor and host of the Special Report with Bret Baier, and preeminent political strategists Adrienne Elrod and Kevin Madden. The panel will feature a discussion on the shifting political landscape approaching 2020.
Following the plenary session, NMMA will wrap up ABC 2019 with a farewell lunch and presentation of several industry awards, including the Eddie Smith Manufacturer of the Year Award and the Hammond Marine Industry Leadership Award. To receive real time updates, NMMA encourages stakeholders to monitor and engage with it on twitter: @therealnmma
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Laura Crisler at [email protected].