CSF Welcomes New Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Leadership for the 118^th Congress - Most Effective Caucus Gathers for Changing of the Guard Dinner

January 31, 2023 (Washington, D.C.) Yesterday, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) hosted its Changing of the Guard Dinner to introduce bipartisan leadership for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) during the 118^th Congress. This event, which takes place at the beginning of each new Congress, welcomes the new leadership of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus while honoring and thanking the outgoing leadership of the previous Congress for their commitment to America’s sportsmen and women.

As leaders of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, the new Co and Vice Chairs in the Senate and House will be tasked with protecting and advancing America’s hunting, fishing, trapping, and recreational shooting traditions while supporting legislation and regulations that positively contribute to wildlife conservation and enable the next generations of sportsmen and women.

During the 118^th Congress, the leadership in the Senate will be Co-Chairs Sen. Joe Manchin (WV) and Sen. John Boozman (AR) and Vice-Chairs Sen. Angus King (ME) and Sen. Roger Marshall (KS). In the House, Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR) and Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA) will serve as Co-Chairs, while Rep. Garret Graves (LA) and Rep. Jared Golden (ME) will serve as Vice-Chairs.

CSF would like to thank the outgoing leaders of the 117^th Congress for their tireless service on behalf of America’s 55 million sportsmen and women. In the Senate, Co-Chairs Sen. Martin Heinrich (NM) and Sen. Deb Fischer (NE), and in the House, Co-Chairs Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI) and Rep. Richard Hudson (NC). During the 117^th Congress, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus achieved a number of victories including:

• The inclusion of the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act and the Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act into the Omnibus Bill;     
• The enactment of the Modernizing Access to Our Public Lands Act;        
• The enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which contained over $40 billion in funding for sportsmen and women;
• The enactment of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act of 2022;     
• The passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act in the House and the Committee level in the Senate;   
• The Committee passage of the Cottonwood Fix, the RISEE Act, and the America’s Outdoor Recreation Act;
• The inclusions of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 language into the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2023; and           
• Defeating numerous pieces of legislation that sought to negatively impact our sporting-conservation heritage. 

Altogether, the new leadership will blend experience from previous CSC service with fresh perspectives, delivering unique viewpoints and strengths to one of Capitol Hill’s most effective bipartisan organizations.

“Despite the fact that we are only a month into the new year, advocacy work is already in high gear here in Washington D.C. and around the nation at-large,” said CSF President and CEO Jeff Crane. “The more than thirty-year relationship between CSF and the CSC has allowed for the passage of landmark conservation legislation and the effective defense and advancement of our outdoor heritage. I am confident that the new CSC leadership will continue the caucuses’ proud tradition of leadership for America’s original conservationists, her sportsmen and women.”

Along with several members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, special guests included Robert Bonnie, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation; Stephenne Harding, White House Council on Environmental Quality Senior Director for Lands; Sergeant Major Thomas Patrick Payne, Medal of Honor Recipient; and Martha Williams, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director.

Changing of the Guard Title Sponsors included Bass Pro Shops; Cabela’s; and Richard Childress Racing. Host Sponsors included Armasight; Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies: Lowell E Baier, Attorney at Law; Ecentria; GE Aerospace; Hornady Manufacturing Co.; National Air Traffic Controllers Association; National Audubon Society; National Shooting Sports Foundation; National Wildlife Federation; Safari Club International; Scheels; Shimano North American Fishing, Inc.; Todd Strategy Group; Vista Outdoor Inc.; and Wildlife Mississippi. Co-Host Sponsors included Air Line Pilots Association;  Consumer Brands Association; Outdoors America; PAC/WEST; and Shumaker Advisors.