The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) announced changes to the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) leadership for the 115th Congress during the ‘Changing of the Guard’ dinner in Washington.
CSF, which hosts several annual events to support the CSC each year, provides a link between the sportsmen’s community and Congress. This annual event provides an opportunity for CSC leadership to discuss upcoming priorities for the year with key members of the sportsmen’s community.
Returning Senate CSC leaders include Co-Chairs Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) and Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Vice-Chairs Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND). Returning House leaders include Co-Chairs Congressman Jeff Duncan (SC) and Congressman Gene Green (TX). CSC leadership also added two new House Vice-Chairs, Congressman Austin Scott (R-GA) and Congressman Marc Veasey (D-TX).
“The CSC, which is the largest, bipartisan caucus on Capitol Hill, continues to grow stronger, and we look forward to working with sportsmen and women-legislators in the 115th Congress,” said CSF President Jeff Crane. “This year’s CSC leadership will be crucial to advancing federal pro-sportsmen policies, including a comprehensive sportsmen’s package.”
“As the new Co-Chair for the 115th Congress, I’m excited to get things moving. The critical hunting, fishing and angling legislative priorities that all sportsmen and women can get behind will be a top initiative for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus in this new Congress. We are taking the steps necessary to get the SHARE Act on the move early and it is one of my top priorities to get SHARE on the President’s desk as soon as possible,” said Rep. Duncan. “I am also excited to be joined by Rep. Austin Scott as one of the new co-vice chairs for the Caucus. He is a dedicated sportsman who will provide a tremendous amount of energy in furthering our priorities.”
“It is an honor to serve as the incoming Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen Caucus alongside a fellow Texan, Representative Marc Veasey,” said Rep. Green. “Together with our colleagues we’ll be working on behalf of sportsmen and women to pass legislation that will protect lands and secure the sporting lifestyle for generations to come.”
The ‘Changing of the Guard’ Title Sponsor was ITC Holdings Corporation. Host Sponsors included American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, American Sportfishing Association, Bass Pro Shops, Boone and Crockett Club, Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Crossroads Strategies, LLC, Hess Corporation, JC Larkin Company, LLC, Lockheed Martin Corporation, National Rifle Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Natural Resource Results, LLC, Oracle, Outdoor Sportsman Group, Plano Synergy, Richard Childress Racing, Safari Club International, Shimano American Corporation, Syngenta Corporation, Vista Outdoor Inc, Winchester Ammunition, and Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America.
Past and present Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus leadership at the 2017 Changing of the Guard dinner.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
