On April 10, Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Vice-Chair Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI) and CSC Member Representative Brian Mast (FL) introduced H.R. 2236, the Forage Fish Conservation Act. This bill would ensure sufficient forage is available for all recreationally important fish species, as well as seabirds and other marine life. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation along with …
Legislation to Benefit Sport Fish Populations and Other Marine Life Introduced Read More »
By Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator On March 27, newly elected Governor Janet Mills of Maine joined the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC), a bipartisan group of governors from across the country dedicated to their sportsmen and women constituents. “Hunters and anglers have enjoyed Maine’s stunning beauty and unrivaled natural resources for generations,” said Gov. …
Maine: Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Welcomes Governor Mills Read More »
By Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator On April 5, Governor Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Governor Janet Mills (ME) signed An Act to Enhance Fish and Wildlife Laws (LD 490) into law. LD 490 provides Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Judy Camuso with the ability to “extend any open trapping season on any …
By Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator On April 10, Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Members convened in Boston for the first meeting of the year. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) New England States Coordinator Joe Mullin was joined by other organizations including the Gun Owners’ Action League and the American Kennel Club, to participate in …
Massachusetts: Caucus Gathers New and Returning Members for First Meeting of the Year Read More »
By Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager Newly elected Minnesota Governor, and former Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Co-Chair, Tim Walz recently joined the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC), a bipartisan group of governors from across the country who are dedicated to providing a voice for their state’s sportsmen and women and advancing professional fish and wildlife …
Minnesota: Governor Walz Joins the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Read More »
By Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator At their recent meeting, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners approved changing the start of the rifle season for deer to Saturday. This year’s season will mark the first time in more than 50 years that the season will begin on a Saturday. The change will offer hunters …
Pennsylvania: Board of Commissioners Advance Proposals to Expand Hunter Opportunity Read More »
The U.S. Senate confirmed David Bernhardt to serve as Secretary of the Interior on a bipartisan vote of 56 – 41. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has strongly supported this confirmation process from the beginning, emphasizing to Senate leadership that Bernhardt has demonstrated his dedication to the sportsmen’s community. Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) …
On April 10, the U.S. Senate passed the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act (S. 94) on a voice vote without amendment – a significant milestone in advancing priority legislation for the sportsmen’s community. S. 94 was introduced by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Member Senator Shelley Moore Capito (WV), and is co-sponsored by numerous …
Senate Passes Priority Legislation for Public Target Range Access Read More »
On April 10, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) hosted a Capitol Hill Breakfast Briefing to provide updates and perspectives on Secretarial Order 3362 and associated conservation initiatives impacting western big game and winter range migration corridors. Interior Secretarial Order 3362 directs the Department of the Interior (DOI) to work in partnership with states across the …
Conservation Leaders Provide Perspectives on Western Wildlife Migration Corridors Read More »
By Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator On April 2, the bipartisan and bicameral Connecticut Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus gathered in Hartford for a game meat tasting reception. The event highlighted the important role that hunters play as food providers – both for their families and the community through game meat donation programs. The game meat …
Connecticut: Caucus Game-Meat Tasting Reception Highlights Sportsmen’s Contributions Read More »
On April 1, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation joined a diverse group of angling conservation and boating organizations in supporting Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act (S. 906), a bill that that would modernize commercial swordfish fishing standards in California. Large-mesh drift gillnets are an outdated commercial fishing method that produce excessive bycatch and waste, including …
On April 4, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council officially approved Amendment 50 to the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources, which will give the states the authority to manage the private recreational red snapper fishery in both state and federal waters beginning with the 2020 fishing season. The ability for the states …
Gulf Council Approves State Management of Red Snapper Anglers Read More »
By Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager Illinois HB 3623, sponsored by Illinois Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-chair Representative Jerry Costello, looks to expand current apprentice licensing. This legislation amends the current law and would allow individuals to apply for an apprentice hunting license more than once. If passed, the bill would remove the “one-time” stipulation, allowing …
Illinois: Legislation Could Expand Apprentice Hunting Opportunities Read More »
On April 4, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced two important nominations to the Department of the Interior (DOI), which comes exactly one week after the Committee held a confirmation hearing to consider Acting Secretary Bernhardt’s nomination to serve as Secretary of the Interior. The first nomination to be reported favorably by the …
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Advances Important Interior Appointees Read More »
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced that $1 billion will be apportioned across all 50 states and U.S. territories on April 1. These funds are generated through excise taxes on hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting equipment, and motorboat fuel – a pillar of the American System of Conservation Funding. “For many decades, funds …
States Receive $1 Billion for Conservation and Outdoor Access Read More »
By Brent Miller, Senior Director of Northeastern States On April 4, the bipartisan and bicameral Vermont Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted its Annual Mixer in Montpelier. The Co-Chairs of the Caucus, Representatives Patrick Brennan and Cynthia Browning, and Senators John Rodgers and Alice Nitka, were joined by nearly 30 other legislators, leadership of the Vermont Fish and …
Vermont: Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Annual Mixer Read More »
By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager West Virginia’s 2018 regular session concluded with many pro-sportsmen’s bills signed into law. On March 22, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member Governor Jim Justice signed HB 2715 into law expanding the conditions that qualify for a special hunting permit for disabled persons. West Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Delegate …
West Virginia: Pro-Sportsmen’s Bills Signed into Law Read More »
It's that time of year when I start looking for the hatchery stocking truck delivering fish to the Black River along Route 131 in Cavendish and Weathersfield. It's great to see the volunteers helping put the fish into the river and then all the people fishing there over the next couple of months. Some are …
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF)’s 2019 sportsmen’s policy issues briefs are now available online. Each year, CSF’s policy team compiles a series of issue briefs that cover a wide range of policy issues affecting the sportsmen’s conservation community. The 2019 collection includes 76 individual state issue briefs and 14 federal issue briefs that provide background …
CSF’s 2019 Sportsmen’s Policy Issue Briefs Now Available Online Read More »
On March 27, Acting Secretary David Bernhardt signed Secretarial Order 3374, which directs bureaus within the Department of the Interior (DOI) to implement the John Dingell Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (S. 47). Recently signed into law, S. 47 is a comprehensive package of legislation that promotes public access to federal public lands for outdoor …
Acting Secretary Bernhardt Signs Order for Public Lands Package Implementation Read More »
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