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February 8, 2007 |
Volume 5, Issue 2 |
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| Hunting and Fishing Community Celebrates the Sportsmen’s Caucus | |||||
House Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) told the crowd, “I am a huge bowhunter and I did not realize that when I got elected that I could make a difference in the U.S. Congress until I learned about the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus. I’m excited about co-chairing this caucus and working in a bipartisan way on issues that impact my fellow hunters, fishers, and all who enjoy the outdoors.” “It is so satisfying for me to serve as the co-chair of the Sportsmen’s Caucus, it really means a lot to me. There are not many issues where bipartisanship is the case, but hunting and fishing cuts across party lines. It is a privilege to champion these issues,” said Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) who serves as Co-Chair in the Senate. |
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| Caucus Leadership Sets Priorities for 110th Congress | |||||
Wasting no time in rolling up their sleeves and getting to work, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus leadership met throughout January to lay out priority issues for America’s sportsmen and women. Topping this list is the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, one of the most important pieces of conservation legislation in the country. Also on the list are conservation tax incentives, wetlands loan reauthorization, state wildlife grant funding and appropriations funding. “We have some real opportunities with this Congress to make a big difference and I look forward to it,” stated Caucus Co-Chair Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID). House Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) echoed, “We have an aggressive legislative agenda and we will work hard to push our priorities. Working on sportsmen’s issues is a labor of love for me and it makes it all worth it when I see my kids having the same opportunities as I did.” |
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| “No Net Loss” Legislation Introduced in Senate | |||||
| CSC Member Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) introduced S. 408, The Hunting Heritage Protection Act, which calls on federal land management agencies to promote and support hunting on public lands. Agencies would also be required to file an annual report with Congress on any changes in lands closed to hunting and areas that were opened to compensate for those closures. Similar legislation has been introduced and passed on the state level through state sportsmen’s caucuses. | |||||
| Caucus Members Introduce Rural Heritage Conservation Extension Act | |||||
| Caucus Co-Chair Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) and CSC member Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) have introduced the Rural Heritage Conservation Extension Act, a bill that would make permanent a provision passed last year that enables farmers and ranchers to voluntarily place land into conservation easements to help protect wildlife habitat. Farmers and ranchers who make contributions can deduct up to 100% of their adjusted gross income and can receive the tax break for up to 15 years. The Administration supports the legislation. | |||||
| Invasives Bill for Refuge System Introduced | |||||
| Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI), who also serves as the co-chairman of the Wildlife Refuge Caucus, has introduced legislation that would provide grants to combat invasive species on National Wildlife Refuges. The bill, H.R. 767, is a reintroduction of legislation he put forward last July called the "Refugee Ecology Protection, Assistance and Immediate Response Act," or REPAIR Act. | |||||
| CSF Welcomes the Sportsman’s Channel and Stihl as Sponsors | |||||
| The Sportsman’s Channel and Stihl have officially joined CSF as Council Members and partners. Launched in 2003, TSC is presently in 14.7 million households nationwide on a full and part-time basis. TSC delivers 100 percent hunting and fishing programming 24 hours a day, seven days a week. STIHL specializes in the development and manufacture of a wide range of dependable portable power tools with state of the art manufacturing facilities in Germany, United States, Switzerland, and Brazil. Stihl employees over 7,500 people and it’s products are sold in more than 130 countries by some 30,000 dealers. | |||||
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| State Sportsmen’s Caucus Members Featured in Pro-Hunting and Fishing PSA Campaign | |||||
| This month public service announcements about the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses and state sportsmen’s caucuses are hitting the airwaves in 13 states. Nineteen sportsmen’s caucus members from around the country are featured in the spots filmed by NASC partner Comcast. | |||||
| Minnesota Lawmakers Meet to Strategize and Celebrate | |||||
Dedicated funding for natural resources has been debated during many legislative sessions, though little action has been taken in recent years. Following the meeting, the Caucus has considered the issue to be a top concern. Senate Majority Leader Lawrence Pogemiller (DFL-Minneapolis) pledged his support to a crowd of local sportsmen that a measure to move a dedicated funding bill this year. Later that day, the Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Alliance (MOHA), a collective of local sportsmen and organizations, hosted 40 members of the Caucus at their Annual Legislative Banquet. NASC presented MOHA was the Freedom Award for their efforts working with the Caucus. NASC partners National Wild Turkey Federation, SCI, Pheasants Forever, National Rifle Association, Ruffed Grouse Society and Ducks Unlimited joined in the celebration of the sportsmen’s caucus. |
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| “No Net Loss” at the State Level | |||||
| On the state level, the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses has promoted the “No Net Loss” of public hunting lands concept with state sportsmen’s caucuses since 2004. Currently, bills are pending in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia. In total, seven states have passed such legislation since 2004. | |||||
| Making Hunting Easier for Newcomers | |||||
| Legislation to get more young guns in the field by removing barriers and making it easier to be introduced to the sport by family members has been introduced through state sportsmen’s caucuses in New York and Oklahoma. Such legislation gained momentum during the past two years through the Families Afield initiative, a program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation and U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, and supported in state legislatures by sportsmen’s caucuses. In total, 14 states have passed legislation to promote youth hunting and fishing since 2005. | |||||
| Honoring Those Who Serve, Hunt and Fish | |||||
| Paying honor to our men and women in uniform, legislation has been introduced in Minnesota and Vermont that would make it easier for those who serve our country to get on the water and into the woods. Last year, seven states passed such legislation. | |||||
| Registering Sportsmen to Vote | |||||
| Ensuring more sportsmen have the opportunity “Vote Their Sport,” Michigan Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Michelle McManus has introduced a bill that would allow hunters and anglers to register to vote when they purchase hunting or fishing licenses. Research conducted by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation in 2004 shows that sportsmen have a likely voter rate of approximately 80%, with 8 in 10 stating that a candidate’s position on sportsmen’s issues is important in determining who earns their vote at the polls. | |||||
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The Sportsman's Link to Congress and State Capitols |
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Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses 110 North Carolina Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003 |
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Past Co-Chairs of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus were honored in a formal ceremony last night as the leadership for the 110th Congress was officially sworn in. Joining in the celebration were leaders from the hunting and fishing community from around the country including representatives from American Sportsfishing Association, BASS, Boone and Crocket Club, National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Ruffed Grouse Society. The evening was focused on recognizing the outgoing leadership and welcoming the incoming leadership.
Members of the Minnesota Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (previously known as the Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Alliance Legislative Caucus) met with Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Mark Holsten, local sportsmen’s groups and the National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses on Wednesday to discuss legislative priorities in the current session. Caucus Co-chair Sen. Pat Pariseau (R-Farmington) said, “The 2007 priorities of the Minnesota Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus include work on compelling sportsmen's issues: dedicated funding for wildlife, hunters walk-in access to private land, wetlands and water quality."