American Boating Congress confirms speakers

swadminApril 7, 2004

WASHINGTON – Nine members of the U.S. Congress have accepted invitations from the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) to address this year’s American Boating Congress (ABC), to be held May 2-4 in Washington, D.C., NMMA said in a statement yesterday.

Representatives Eric Cantor (R-Va.), Mark Foley (R-Fla.), Walter Jones (R-N.C.), Ric Keller (R-Fla.), Frank Pallone (R-N.J.), John Porter (R-Nev.), Jim Saxton (R-N.J.) and Dave Weldon (R-Fla.), and Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) have accepted invitations, NMMA reported.

They will join speakers recently confirmed by NMMA, including:

Daniel Basta, director, Office of Marine Sanctuaries, NOAA

Bernadette Budde, Business-Industry Political Action Committee

Donald Businger, director of Trade Event Programs at the U.S. Department of Commerce

Stephen Butler, deputy chief of the OSHA Division of Maritime Compliance

Captain Scott Evans of the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety

Robert G. Hayes, general counsel, Coastal Conservation Association, and ICCAT delegate

Bill Livingood, sergeant-at-arms for the U.S. House of Representatives

Craig Manson, assistant secretary of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife and Park

John Malatak of the U.S. Coast Guard

Chris Mann of the Center for SeaChange at the Pew Oceans Commission

Captain Anthony Regalbutto, director of Port Security Planning and Readiness, U.S. Coast Guard

Bradley Smith, chairman of the Federal Elections Commission

Todd Willens, senior policy director, House Resources Committee

“We’re honored to have such a wide array of accomplished individuals take the time to share their insights with ABC attendees,” said Monita Fontaine, NMMA vice president of government affairs. “Their expert knowledge of the issues facing the recreational boating industry in 2004 will provide ABC participants with a deeper understanding of the role and priorities of our government and how government actions affect their businesses.”