On January 16, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) hosted the Welcome Back to Congress Reception on Capitol Hill, which gathered Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Members and Congressional staff with representatives from the sportsmen’s community to discuss upcoming priorities for hunting, angling, and fish and wildlife conservation at the federal level.
CSF President Jeff Crane introduced current CSC leadership, who are continuing to serve as leaders during the second term of the 115th Congress. Co-Chairs include: Senator Jim Risch (ID), Senator Joe Manchin (WV), Congressman Jeff Duncan (SC), and Congressman Gene Green (TX). Vice-Chairs include: Senator Deb Fischer (NE), Senator Heidi Heitkamp (ND), Congressman Austin Scott (GA), and Congressman Marc Veasey (TX).
Among federal priorities discussed were: Recovering America’s Wildlife Act; the Modern Fish Act; federal forestry reform; the 2018 Farm Bill; Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow’s Needs Act; and advancing a bipartisan sportsmen’s package in both the House and Senate.
“We are not giving up on the sportsmen’s package; we are going to get that done,” said Sen. Manchin. “I want to thank Jeff Duncan, Austin Scott, and Marc Veasey for all they do on the House side, and we are doing all that we can on the Senate side.”
“After eight years of support from America’s sportsmen and women, we have yet to send a comprehensive, bipartisan sportsmen’s package to the President’s desk,” said Crane. “There are more than 38 million sportsmen and women in the United States who are deserving of improved access, protected wildlife habitat, and enhanced opportunities for hunting and angling.”
Welcome Back to Congress Reception Title Sponsors were Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund. Host Sponsors included: Altria; American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers; Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC; Crossroads Strategies, LLC; Ducks Unlimited, Inc.; Hornady Manufacturing; National Rifle Association; National Shooting Sports Foundation; Natural Resource Results, LLC; Oracle; Outdoor Sportsman Group; Plano Synergy; Richard Childress Racing; Safari Club International; Shimano North American Holdings; Southern Company; Syngenta Corporate Affairs; The Nature Conservancy; Vista Outdoor Inc.; and Winchester Ammunition.
Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Vice-Chair Rep. Marc Veasey (TX) addresses attendees alongside
CSC leaders and Members.
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?
