The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation recently hosted events at both the Republican National Convention (RNC) on July 19, and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on July 26.
The RNC Stars and Stripes Shoot-Out was a success with many senators and representatives representing the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC), state legislators representing the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucus (NASC), and governors representing the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC). Right outside Cleveland, Ohio, two clay shooting courses were available for attendees to compete in a friendly competition.
CSC Co-Chair Congressman Rob Wittman addressed the attendees. “Sportsmen and women do more to conserve our environment and wildlife habitats than any other group in the United States. That’s why the issues that are important to them should be important to every Member of Congress. This year, the House passed the bipartisan SHARE Act and the Senate passed similar provisions. I’m doing everything I can to get other legislation that is important to outdoor recreationalists passed in Congress and on the President’s desk for signature by the end of this year,” said Rep. Wittman.
The DNC luncheon was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, just steps away from the Wells Fargo Center. CSC Co-Chair Senator Joe Manchin, Vice-Chair Senator Heidi Heitkamp, Vice-Chair Congressman Gene Green, and CSC Member Senator Martin Heinrich and all spoke on behalf of the CSC and the importance of maintaining a bipartisan caucus. Each member also spoke about their fondest hunting and fishing memories and why protecting rights of sportsmen and women is important to wildlife conservation.
Senator Manchin said, “As an avid sportsman and co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, I know firsthand that our hunting and fishing heritage is so important to who we are as West Virginians and as Americans,” Senator Manchin said. “Protecting our strong culture of responsibly training our young and new sportsmen and sportswomen, and protecting our hunting, fishing and recreational shooting traditions are among my top priorities. I was honored to speak at the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation luncheon about the importance of our culture and enhancing sportsmen’s traditions for future generations.”
Both the CSF-hosted RNC and DNC events provided opportunities to discuss upcoming policy priorities for sportsmen and women.
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?
