It is with distinct sadness that we at Saving Seafood report that longtime House of Representatives staff member Dave Whaley has announced his retirement "due to a restructuring of the House Committee on Natural Resources."
December 16, 2014 –According to Dave's e-mail to friends and colleagues this evening, decisions regarding the new committee structure will be finalized once the new Congress is sworn in, but tentative plans are for all ocean-related issues to be folded into the current Water and Power Subcommittee. The new Subcommittee will be the Water, Power and Oceans Subcommittee. Questions about how the Magnuson-Stevens Act reauthorization will be handled by the Committee should be directed to Todd Ungerecht, who will be staying on with the Committee as the Deputy Staff Director.
Dave reports that his understanding is that Mr. Young will be taking the lead on the reauthorization in the 114th Congress.
The text of Dave's email follows:
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
It is with mixed emotions that I want to let you know that as of January 3rd, due to a restructuring of the House Committee on Natural Resources, I will no longer be working for the Committee and will retire from the House of Representatives.
I have had the honor to work on Capitol Hill for more than 30 years and that would not have been possible without dedicated, passionate, and knowledgeable bosses that have mentored me throughout my career – Bob Davis from Michigan, Jack Fields from Texas, Don Young from Alaska, Jim Hansen from Utah, Richard Pombo from California, and Doc Hastings from Washington (as well as a number of Subcommittee Chairman including Dr. John Fleming from Louisiana). At a time when many Americans are frustrated with the Federal government and Congress in particular, I think it is important to point out that while Congress has its "showboats" and Members who are here for the wrong reasons, the vast majority of Members and Congressional staff are working hard to make things better for their constituents and for America. With your help we have been able to accomplish a lot of positive things for fishermen, coastal communities, and the fishery resources they depend on. Maybe more importantly, have also been able to prevent bad things from happening. None of that would have been possible without your help, your advice, and your friendship.
There are just too many people who have helped me throughout my career and too many to thank in an email, but most importantly, I would not have stayed on Capitol Hill as long as I have without my subcommittee colleagues – Harry Burroughs and Bonnie Bruce. We have been an efficient and close team for twenty years and they are not just colleagues, but family.
I have been blessed with great bosses, tremendous colleagues, and many, many friends as a result of my time on Capitol Hill. No matter what challenges life has in store for me in the future, you can rest assured that I will continue to keep an eye on and advocate for coastal communities and fishermen.
Thank you again for your friendship.
At this point, decisions regarding the new committee structure will need to be finalized once the new Congress is sworn in, but tentative plans are for all ocean-related issues to be folded into the current Water and Power Subcommittee. The new Subcommittee will be the Water, Power and Oceans Subcommittee. For those of you with questions about how the Magnuson-Stevens Act reauthorization will be handled by the Committee, please feel free to contact Todd Ungerecht, who will be staying on with the Committee as the Deputy Staff Director and many of you already know. My understanding is that Mr. Young will be taking the lead on the reauthorization in the 114th Congress.