The Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council (HSSCC) provided the Department of the Interior (DOI) with recommendations to advance two longstanding priorities of the sportsmen’s community: access to federal lands and restoration of sage habitat. The recommendations were developed and approved during the HSSCC’s October 2 meeting held in Charlotte, North Carolina and represent the collaborative work of sportsmen’s community leaders tasked with providing formal recommendations to the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on issues related to wildlife resources, hunting, and the shooting sports under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) President Jeff Crane serves as Chairman of the HSSCC.

On September 18, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee marked up and passed S. 593, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act.

This bipartisan legislation was introduced by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Members Senators Shelley More Capito (WV), John Boozman (AR), Michael Bennet (CO), and CSC Vice-Chair Heidi Heitkamp (ND).

On September 7, the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced the opening of more than 251,000 acres to new or expanded hunting and fishing opportunities within the National Wildlife Refuge System.

On August 9, members of the Delaware and Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucuses gathered with state officials and conservation partners for a regional policy forum and suppressor/air rifle demonstration at Schrader's Outdoors in Henderson, Maryland.

Other attendees included officials from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control; staff from the Pennsylvania Game Commission as well as Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission; conservation partners; and secretaries from Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Governor John Carney’s (DE) cabinet for a policy forum and demonstration on firearm suppressors and air rifles.

Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) leaders Senators Jim Risch (ID), Joe Manchin (WV), and Heidi Heitkamp (ND), along with CSC Member Senator Lamar Alexander (TN) introduced the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (S. 3223).

From May 30-31, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) Federal Relations Coordinator Taylor Schmitz attended the 2018 Partners Outdoors Conference which took place at the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture.

On June 13, the Senate Agriculture Committee passed the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, more commonly known as the Farm Bill, with a strong vote of 20 – 1. This bipartisan bill was introduced by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Members (CSC) Chairman Senator Pat Roberts (KS) and Ranking Member Senator Debbie Stabenow (MI).

On April 18, the House Natural Resources Committee marked up and passed H.R. 788, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act on a voice vote. This bipartisan piece of legislation was introduced by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Member Congressman Duncan Hunter (CA) on February 1, 2017.

Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke signed Secretarial Order 3362, which promotes collaboration between the Department of the Interior and western state fish and wildlife agencies for the conservation of big-game winter range and migration corridors.

Order 3362 fosters collaboration among states, private landowners, and other stakeholders to use the best available science for development of management guidelines that ensure big game populations, including antelope, elk, and mule deer, thrive.

Provided by CSF

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.