Highlights
Why it matters: The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) is the single most important federal agency to sportsmen and women. DOI is responsible for access and conservation on federal lands including National Wildlife Refuges, National Fish Hatcheries, Bureau of Land Management lands, and National Park Service units, among others. The position of Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks directly oversees the management and conservation of our natural resources, making this position one of critical importance to America’s hunters and anglers.
On Wednesday, the Senate Environment and Publics Works (EPW) Committee (Committee) voted to advance the nomination of Ms. Shannon Estenoz to serve as Assistant Secretary of Fish and Wildlife and Parks on a vote of 19-1.
Given her diverse background in the private sector, and record of bipartisan work in the public sector, Ms. Estenoz is uniquely qualified to serve as the next Assistant Secretary of Fish and Wildlife and Parks. In addition to previously serving as DOI’s Director of Everglades Restoration Initiatives, Ms. Estenoz was appointed by three Florida Governors, spanning both political parties, to serve on the Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management District.
Prior to her confirmation hearing and subsequent vote, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) joined a letter with 26 of the nation’s leading sporting conservation organizations in support of Ms. Estenoz’s nomination and sent an alert to the Committee urging members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus to favorably advance her nomination, which now awaits consideration for a floor vote in the Senate.
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?
