CSF Leaders Attend White House Conference On America's Great Outdoors

April 16, 2010 (WASHINGTON, DC) - Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) President Jeff Crane, along with several members of the CSF Board of Directors, participated today in the White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors.

President Barack Obama announced the conference back in March to address the challenges, opportunities and innovations concerning land conservation and the importance of connecting Americans and American families to the outdoors.

Obama spoke at the conference, which was lead by Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior, and Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture.

“I do, for the same reasons that all of you do; for the same reason families go outside for a picnic or campers spend a night in a national park, and sportsmen track game through the woods or wade deep into a river,” said Obama.  “It’s a recognition passed down from one generation to the next, that few pursuits are more satisfying to the spirit than discovering the greatness of America’s outdoors.”

The White House Conference included several discussion panels and included a diverse group of hunters, anglers, industry officials, ranchers, conservation organizations, and state and local government officials. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt and Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker also attended and participated.

"It is encouraging to hear the many references to hunting and fishing at today's conference,” said Crane. “As the backbone of America's successful conservation model, hunters and anglers are critical stakeholders that need to be involved in policy discussions concerning the future of our public lands and outdoor spaces."

During the conference, Obama announced the "America's Great Outdoors" initiative to develop a federal land conservation strategy. He also signed a presidential memorandum ordering a report by Nov. 15 to detail an action plan concerning conservation plans from outside the federal government.

The initiative is to be led by Salazar, Vilsack, Sutley, and U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. Administration officials will hold public hearings throughout the country during the coming months with a wide range of groups to discuss conservation strategies and efforts.