Norman D. Dicks

Former U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977 to 2013, was a steadfast supporter of Civil War battlefield preservation and the protection of America's public lands.

Dicks earned a seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee during his first term in Congress. As chairman of the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, he was a strong advocate for battlefield preservation through the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP), a federal program established in 1998 that provides grants to acquire and protect historic battlefield land. In this role, Dicks helped secure consistent federal funding for the program, strengthening efforts to preserve threatened battlefields across the country.

Dicks also served on the House Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, where he advocated for commemorating the sacrifices of America's military personnel. His leadership in Congress helped establish sustained federal support for battlefield preservation and reinforced the importance of protecting America's historic landscapes for future generations.

Dicks announced his retirement from Congress in 2012, concluding 36 years of service when his final term ended in January 2013. Following his retirement, he remained active in public service, joining the board of the Seattle-based conservation nonprofit Long Live the Kings in 2013 and the National Bureau of Asian Research in 2014.