CONGRESS

Yesterday, more than 30 Members of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus (CSC), the largest bipartisan Caucus on Capitol Hill, joined the sportsmen's community and allied industry representatives for the annual Congressional Clays Competition.

The U.S. Senate has confirmed New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland as the fifty-fourth Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

On Saturday, August 25, the House Natural Resources Committee will hold an oversight field hearing in Panama City, Forida entitled, "Fishing=Jobs: How Strengthening America's Fisheries Strengthens Our Economy."

On Tuesday, June 19, 2012, Safari Club International Foundation (SCI Foundation) Chairman of Conservation & SCI Vice-President, Dr. Al Maki, will testify before the Space, Science, and Technology Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight in a hearing covering "The Science of How Hunting Assists Species Conservation and Management."

United States Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) today announced that he has secured a commitment to hold Congressional oversight hearings this fall on the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the federal law which governs how coastal fisheries are managed.

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, has called on former MF Global CEO Jon Corzine to testify before the Agriculture Committee at a hearing on December 13 regarding the MF Global Holdings Ltd. bankruptcy.

With the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration continuing to struggle in the management of the nation's fisheries, lawmakers held a committee hearing Tuesday intended to explore the impact of a looming deadline that will force the agency to set annual catch limits on stocks of fish for which it has no science.

U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln, D-Arkansas, has urged Congress to support the Rural Energy Savings Program to promote job creation and energy efficiency in rural America. The bill would create a loan program for energy efficiency upgrades to rural homes and businesses.

A letter signed by members of the U.S. House of Representatives' Second Amendment Task Force raising questions about the National Park Service's intent to ban the use of traditional ammunition in parks that allow hunting has been sent to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. The National Shooting Sports Foundation, trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry has applauded that action.

A proposed record increase to the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) moved a step closer to becoming reality when the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved the President's request of more than $52 million for the popular wetlands conservation initiative.

The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, along with the Angling & Boating Alliance, held its second breakfast briefing of the 111th Congress on Wednesday to brief members of Congress, staff, and industry representatives concerning reauthorization of the Sportfish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund as part of the ongoing 2009 Highway Bill discussions.

Over 100 Safari Club International (SCI) members met with Members of Congress on the Hill yesterday in conjunction with SCI's annual May Board meeting in Washington, DC. In more than 180 meetings, SCI members brought the voice of the hunting and conservation community to the Hill, advocating on issues of importance to SCI and its members.

The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, in cooperation with the National Shooting Sports Foundation, held the first Congressional Breakfast Briefing of the 111th Congress yesterday, focusing on H.R. 510 and S. 632 The Firearms Fairness and Affordability Act, companion bills recently introduced by Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus leaders in the House and Senate, which would make it easier for firearms and ammunition manufacturers to file excise taxes that support state wildlife programs.

The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation celebrated the return of sportsman legislators to Washington for the 111th Congress Tuesday night with a "Welcome To Congress" reception at the Rayburn Building.

Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) have been chosen as co-chairs of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus in the United States Senate.

As the 111 session of the United States Congress opens, the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus has selected Representative Dan Boren (D-OK) and Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) to serve as the House Caucus Co-Chairs.

Testifying before a Congressional committee yesterday, Ducks Unlimited Chief Biologist, Dale Humburg identified several key factors in declining bird populations across North America: Loss of grassland nesting habitat, deterioration of coastal wetlands and loss of protected wetlands in all parts of the country.

Hunters and anglers are urging President Bush to sign the Valle Vidal Act. The measure restricts energy development on a 101,794-acre parcel of land in New Mexico's Carson National Forest.