WASHINGTON, D.C.-- March 27, 2002 – AeA, the nation’s largest high-tech trade association, announced today that it will induct Representative Norman Dicks (D-WA) into its "High-tech Legislators Hall of Fame" May 21 in Washington, DC. The award is in recognition of Rep. Dicks’ support of high-tech business initiatives at the state and federal level.

Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) and Representative Amo Houghton (R-NY) will also be presented with awards. The legislators will be formally honored with a dinner at the Loews L’Enfant Plaza in Washington, DC.

Recipients of the awards are selected using the following criteria: sponsorship of significant legislation affecting the high-tech industry; support of major legislative issues affecting the high-tech industry; and continual efforts to educate public policy officials about the issues affecting the high-tech industry.

"Dicks has been a champion of trade issues for the high-tech industry, most recently Trade Promotion Authority (a.k.a. "Fast Track" negotiating power)," said William T. Archey, AeA president and CEO. "He recognizes the importance of foreign trade--particularly with the Asian market--for the high-tech community and the economic health of his state and has taken steps to promote both."

Washington state is home to over 130,000 high-tech employees, ranks 18^th in the nation for export of high-tech products, according to Cyberstates 2001, a study by AeA and The Nasdaq Stock Market.