Coastal Conservation Association (CCA)

CCA Advocacy Team Adds Expertise

Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) is pleased to announce that Matthew Paxton, most recently senior counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, has joined the CCA advocacy team to provide key lobbying support and counsel.

“Matt gives our advocacy efforts yet another dimension. With expert fisheries consultants monitoring the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, and Bob Hayes representing our interests in Washington, D.C., the CCA advocacy team is second to none,” said Fred Miller, chairman of the National Government Relations Committee. “Matt is an invaluable addition to our conservation efforts and we are very fortunate to have him with us.”

Paxton spent more than five years in the U.S. Senate working on legislative and policy issues focused primarily on natural resources, environment and fisheries matters. As senior counsel on the Commerce Committee, he worked on the development and drafting of the recently enacted Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006. He also oversaw several subcommittees that dealt with fisheries issues and policy, and worked almost exclusively on the Magnuson-Stevens Act for the chairman of the committee at that time, Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK).

“With his experience on Capitol Hill and with the Magnuson Act in particular, Matt has a unique set of skills that will make him an extremely effective advocate for CCA and its mission to conserve and restore marine resources,” said Bob Hayes, CCA general counsel.

Before joining the Commerce Committee, Paxton was the Legislative Director for Sen. Stevens where he worked on numerous legislative and policy issues involving fisheries in the North Pacific. He earned his degree in Political Science from the University of Washington and his Juris Doctor from Willamette University College of Law. He is a member of the Washington State Bar Association.

“Matt’s knowledge and experience are a perfect complement to our grassroots network of tens of thousands of dedicated members. With Matt and Bob Hayes, CCA is truly being represented by the best people in the business,” said Pat Murray, CCA director of conservation

“CCA is an impressive organization of volunteer anglers dedicated to conserving fishery resources,” said Paxton. “It is an honor to be part of the CCA team and working on such great initiatives.”

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CCA is the largest marine resource conservation group of its kind in the nation. With more than 90,000 members in 15 state chapters, CCA has been active in state, national and international fisheries management issues since 1977. Visit www.JoinCCA.org for more information.