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Hunting, fishing, and just generally enjoying the great outdoors are big business in Nebraska and provide a major economic stimulus for our beautiful state. A survey by the Census Bureau found that 650,000 residents and non residents spent $640 million in 2006 on fishing, hunting, and observing wildlife in Nebraska.
To be sure, Nebraska has a strong outdoors tradition and excellent wildlife habitat enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people who inject millions of dollars into the economy, but it won’t matter if misguided laws and regulations take it away. We must always be watchful for federal or state legislation that might negatively impact wildlife recreation.
We must also continue to promote and advocate for sportsmen in the political arena which is what the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus does in the United States Senate.
2 Decades of Protecting Sportsmen’s Rights
The Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus and the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation celebrate their 20th anniversary this year with pride in their past legislative accomplishments and with an eye on the future of hunting, angling, and conservation issues.
I’m thrilled to be able to play a major role in those efforts having again been selected as Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsman’s Caucus which consists of nearly half the members of Congress; 52 senators and 193 representatives.
I grew up hunting, fishing and camping and as an elected official, have a tremendous opportunity to advocate these traditions in the halls of Congress. As co-chair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, I look forward to working with my fellow sportsmen on Capitol Hill to advance the interests of hunters, anglers and conservationists who continue to enjoy the time honored American tradition of enjoying the outdoors.
One of the truly wonderful things about the Congressional Sportsman’s Caucus is that it is a bi-partisan group. The other Co-Chair is Senator Mike Crapo, a Republican from Idaho. Vice Chairs are Senator John Thune, Republican from South Dakota and Senator Jon Tester, Democrat from Montana.
Both Sides of the Aisle Working Together
Unlike some of the other activities in Washington, Republicans and Democrats reach across the aisle and join hands to work together, not as Republican or Democrat, but as sportsmen and women. As a result, we have been able to achieve many victories for hunting, fishing, conservation and fish and wildlife habitat.
When members from both parties work together you can be certain that the result will be in the best interests of all Americans.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus makes the bipartisan point very effectively on its website when it quotes Henry Ford who said, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”
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