February 7, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) – Yesterday the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) hosted its annual Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Leadership Dinner, which gathered past and present members of the CSC and leaders from the sporting-conservation community to celebrate the fact that the CSC was directly responsible in seeing 7.5% of the bills signed into law in 2023, a monumental feat. The event also provided the opportunity to celebrate 35 years of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus and its leadership to protect and advance the interests of sportsmen and women.
In the 118th Congress, the CSC Co-Chairs in the Senate are Sen. Joe Manchin (WV) and Sen. John Boozman (AR). The Vice-Chairs in the Senate are Sen. Angus King Jr. (ME) and Sen. Roger Marshall (KS). In the House, the CSC Co-Chairs are Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR) and Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA). The Vice-Chairs in the House are Rep. Garret Graves (LA) and Rep. Jared Golden (ME). Through leadership on key committees of relevance and the unmatched bipartisanship, the leadership of the CSC continues to be uniquely positioned to advance policies of critical importance to sportsmen and women.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus is the largest and most active bipartisan caucus in Congress, renowned for its effectiveness and unparalleled ability to work across the aisle to advance policies of interest to sportsmen and women. The Leadership Dinner recognized the continued leadership of the CSC and celebrated the multitude of victories achieved for sportsmen and women in 2023. Recent victories spearheaded by the CSC include two significant pieces of bipartisan legislation being signed into law, the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act and the Duck Stamp Modernization Act.
“As an avid sportsman and Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, I know the importance of ensuring that future generations are engaged in the great outdoors,” said CSC Co-Chair Sen. Manchin. “I am proud that we were able to work across the aisle to ensure students continue to have access to critically important enrichment programs such as archery and hunter education through the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act.”
“Arkansas is a well-known destination for waterfowl hunters. As a result of the bipartisan work of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus to pass the Duck Stamp Modernization Act and update the Federal Duck Stamp, they will have easier access to this time-honored tradition. I’m proud to work alongside outdoor enthusiasts to protect and expand that opportunity in The Natural State and nationwide,” said CSC Co-Chair Sen. Boozman.
“As the Chairman of the House Natural Resources and as Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, sportsmen and women are at top of mind. Through events like this, we are able to foster strong relationships with industry stakeholders that allow us to best advance solutions for outdoor recreation across the country,” said CSC Co-Chair Rep. Westerman. “I look forward to prioritizing pieces of legislation such as the LAKES Act and the EXPLORE Act, both of which are critical to improving and enhancing access for sportsmen and women.”
“As a Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, I appreciate the responsibility of living up to the CSC’s 35 years of unmatched bipartisan leadership for America’s conservation efforts,” said CSC Co-Chair Rep. Panetta. “Fortunately, as the U.S. Representative for and having grown up in California’s 19th Congressional District, with its abundant beauty and bounty, as well as my affinity for hunting and fishing, I have the foundation to further the bipartisan conservation goals of the the CSC. Although the CSC was able to help deliver nearly 7.5% of the bills that became law in the past year, I look forward to continuing to work with Co-Chair Bruce Westerman and the other members of the CSC to develop more commonsense solutions to protect and promote access to outdoor recreation so that all Americans can enjoy the beauty and bounty of our great nation.”
“During a time when politics have never felt more partisan, we are thankful for the CSC and their unmatched ability to work across the aisle to accomplish real results for America’s 55 million sportsmen and women,” said CSF President and CEO Jeff Crane. “Events like this give us an opportunity to celebrate not only the achievements the CSC has made, but to also celebrate our shared passion for the outdoors and to fix our eyes on maintaining these pursuits for the years to come.”
Title sponsors for the event included: Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Cenovus Energy, the Outdoor Sportsman Group, and Richard Childress Racing. Host sponsors included: the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, Lowell Baier, Dallas Safari Club, Ducks Unlimited, Ecentria, Hornady, Husch Blackwell Strategies, the International Order of T. Roosevelt, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the National Wildlife Federation, Safari Club International, Scheels, Shimano, Vista Outdoor, and Wildlife Mississippi.
Pictured from Left to Right: CSF President & CEO, Jeff Crane; CSC Co-Chair Sen. John Boozman (AR); CSC Co-Chair Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR); CSC Co-Chair Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA); CSF Federal Relations Director, Taylor Schmitz; and CSF Board Member and Boone & Crockett Club Board of Directors President James Cummins (not pictured: CSC Co-Chair Sen. Joe Manchin (WV) who was in attendance earlier in the evening)
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