How the 119th Congress Can Deliver for Hunters and Anglers

January 13, 2025

How lawmakers can build on recent conservation successes and deliver big wins for the hunting and fishing community

The 118th Congress was productive for hunters, anglers, and the TRCP community. Alongside our partners, we celebrated the passage of the EXPLORE Act, America’s Conservation Enhancement Act, and the Water Resources Development Act which all contained important provisions for habitat conservation and access, but there is still work to be done.

The 119th Congress officially began on January 3, 2025. Amid the uncertainty of navigating a presidential transition, new leadership in the Senate, and fresh faces sitting atop numerous committees, Congress has the potential to deliver big wins for fish and wildlife, habitat conservation, and hunting, fishing, and recreational access.

Below are a few ways the 119th Congress can advance conservation and access:

Pass a Farm Bill

Yet another Farm Bill expiration deadline came and went in late 2024 without a new bill being signed. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is still operating on the 2018 Farm Bill, leaving big opportunities on the table to expand support for voluntary access and habitat conservation programs on private lands. As Agriculture Committees return to work with new leadership, the TRCP will be pushing for a Farm Bill that supports wildlife, habitat, and hunters and anglers across the country.

Among the most impactful things that this Congress can do to bolster conservation and access is to invest Inflation Reduction Act funds into the Farm Bill baseline, making them permanent. Failure to do so would wipe out billions of dollars that go directly to farmers and ranchers through these popular, voluntary programs. The good news is there was bipartisan support last Congress among leadership of Agriculture Committees to roll these funds into the Farm Bill baseline.

Any new Farm Bill should also include a reauthorization and expanded funding for the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, the only federal tool aimed at increasing hunting and fishing access on private lands. Additionally, Congress should use Farm Bill proposals from the 118^th Congress to conserve big game migratory habitat on private lands and improve forest health and fish and wildlife habitat in headwater environments.   

Unlock More Access Opportunities for Hunters and Anglers

Hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreationists had plenty to cheer about in the 118^th Congress with the passage of the EXPLORE Act, a first of its kind recreation-focused legislative package. However, Congress still has work to do in the 119^th to unlock more access opportunities on federal waterways and oceans.

Here are a few ways Congress can do this:

Pass the MAPWaters Act. The MAPWaters Act would require federal land management agencies to digitize water and fishing access and recreational use information on federal waterways and make those resources available to the public. The bill passed both the House and Senate last Congress on sweeping bipartisan margins, but minor differences in the two bills meant that the bill ultimately failed to cross the finish line in the 118^th Congress.

Pass the MAPOceans Act. Like the MAPWaters Act, the MAPOceans Act would require NOAA to create a publicly accessible database that outlines fishing restrictions and closures, boating restrictions and closures, and allowable methods of take in federal waters.

Reauthorize the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund. Established by the Great American Outdoors Act, the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund is set to expire. This fund provides federal land management agencies with resources to address the backlog of deferred maintenance projects. Congress should act to reauthorize this important source of funding to restore and expand access opportunities on public lands.

Given the demonstrated, broad support, the 119^th Congress should move quickly to send these common-sense bills to the President’s desk.

Streamline Permitting for Restoration Projects

Despite a compromise deal emerging from the Senate, the 118^th Congress ultimately failed to pass a comprehensive permitting reform legislative package. Permitting reform talks have largely focused on expediting environmental review for energy and transmission projects, but Congress must also address the issue of overly cumbersome and excessive delays on approving ecosystem restoration and other environmentally beneficial projects. Currently, these projects go through the same approval process as other development and infrastructure projects, which creates unnecessary hurdles and complicates on-the-ground habitat restoration work. These projects help support recreational access and sustain the $1.1 trillion annual outdoor economy.

TRCP worked with our partners to develop common-sense recommendations to cut through the “green tape” that delays conservation and restoration projects. By developing a categorical exclusion specific to the Department of Interior for restoration actions and simplifying, and scaling, mitigation as a component of permitting, Congress can help get more conservation and restoration work on the ground and reduce the amount of money spent on environmental analysis without diminishing protections under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or other bedrock environmental statutes.

Conserve Big Game Migration Corridors

The Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act, introduced in the 118^th Congress, would formally authorize existing federal programs initiated by the Department of the Interior during the Trump Administration through Secretarial Order 3362, signed by then-Secretary Ryan Zinke, to conserve big game migration corridors through voluntary financial and technical assistance to states, Tribes, and private landowners.

These programs have been supported and expanded by the Biden Administration but remain discretionary, meaning that they rely on federal agencies setting aside funding each year to continue implementing these programs. Congressional action to formalize these discretionary programs would guarantee that the work persists regardless of administration changes. This is important because the annual budgets of state and Tribal wildlife agencies are unable to meet the full demand for resource management. The financial and technical assistance from these federal programs would help to bridge that funding gap.

The Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act gained momentum in the 118^th Congress having hearings in both the House and Senate which presents a strong jumping off point for swift consideration in the 119th Congress. Passing this bill would represent the culmination of nearly a decade of work by the hunting and fishing community while building upon the success of existing big game habitat conservation efforts.

Support Wildlife Habitat Connectivity and Public Access in the Highway Bill

*Photo by Colorado Department of Transportation.*

Congress passed a comprehensive surface transportation and infrastructure bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), in 2021. The IIJA included numerous conservation investments championed by TRCP and our partners including generational investments in wildlife crossing infrastructure, fish passage, public land access, and natural infrastructure solutions. Many of these programs funded under the IIJA are set to expire in fiscal year 2026, handing the 119th Congress an opportunity to build on the success of these programs that benefit fish and wildlife habitat, reduce costs, create jobs, and enhance public safety.

 For example, the IIJA allocated $350 million to the Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program, a first-of-its-kind grant program to construct wildlife-friendly roadway infrastructure to reduce wildlife vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity for big game and other wildlife. IIJA has also provided investments in aquatic connectivity, which have addressed barriers to fish passage and improved aquatic habitat and have similarly spurred innovation and collaboration across numerous federal and state agencies and other partners and should be prioritized in a surface transportation bill.

Simply put, the Wildlife Crossings Pilot is successful partnership-based program that leverages expertise and funds across numerous federal and state departments and Congress should seek to permanently authorize this program and allocate additional funds to better meet demand.

The 119^th Congress should also seek to enhance access opportunities for hunters, anglers, and recreationists through a surface transportation bill. Despite a surface transportation reauthorization bill being colloquially called a “Highway Bill,” there’s an opportunity to improve access to remote, rural public lands through partnerships with counties. Congress could establish a pilot program to make grants available to counties to digitize records and make information publicly available on the location and status of county-maintained roads. 

Develop Tax Policy Updates that Fund Conservation

Republican leadership in the House and Senate are widely expected to prioritize a broad tax reform package in 2025. This provides an opportunity for the 119th Congress to close tax loopholes that divert funds away from conservation.

The rise of online marketplaces that facilitate direct-to-consumer sales from overseas manufacturers has created a growing loophole that is undermining the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. The federal excise tax on hunting and fishing equipment established under Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson is not being collected on foreign-made fishing tackle and archery equipment sold direct from overseas to U.S. consumers, and online marketplaces are not currently responsible for collecting the excise tax on archery and fishing tackle imports. Any comprehensive legislative package on tax policy must close this loophole that accounts for an estimated annual loss of $17 million dollars that would otherwise go to fund state fish and wildlife management agencies.

Conservation is, and should be, a shared priority regardless of party affiliation or ideology. Congress needs to hear that conservation is important to you. For more information, and to take action in support of critical conservation priorities in the year ahead, visit the TRCP Action Center.

The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.

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by: Dan Morgan

posted in: Highlights

January 9, 2025

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership Announces Four New Board Members

Experts in conservation, finance, and community building join the leadership team

(Washington D.C.)—The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership is pleased to announce the appointment of four new directors to its leadership team. George Cooper, Nick Seidenberg, Ashley Smith, and Bob Ziehmer join the 27-member board that oversees TRCP. 

“TRCP is fortunate to welcome these four individuals as new members of our Board of Directors,” said Alston Watt, TRCP board chair. “Their wide range of expertise will help us build upon our organizational strengths and help conserve hunting, fishing, and the wild places we cherish for future generations.”

Bios for the incoming board members can be found below. To read more about TRCP’s full Board of Directors and leadership team, click HERE.

“We are thrilled to welcome these industry leaders and dedicated conservation advocates to the TRCP family,” said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the TRCP. “Our Board of Directors plays a pivotal role in guiding our organization and empowers us to continue uniting and amplifying our partners’ voices to advance America’s legacy of conservation, habitat, and access. With the addition of George, Nick, Ashley, and Bob to the Board, TRCP is well positioned to achieve our mission of guaranteeing all Americans quality places to hunt and fish.”

George Cooper

George Cooper is a Partner at Forbes Tate Partners leading the firm’s natural resources and outdoor recreation government affairs practice, representing nonprofits, corporations, and trade associations on policy related to natural resource conservation, public lands, marine fisheries, agricultural land, tax, trade, and appropriations issues. George leverages his extensive network in DC to connect clients with the right people on Capitol Hill and in pertinent federal agencies and guide them in delivering messages and creating conversations that produce meaningful results.

Prior to joining FTP, George served as President and CEO of TRCP. Throughout his nearly eight years at TRCP, both as CEO and as vice president for policy and communications, he helped create a new strategic advocacy niche in Washington for the nation’s 40 million hunters and anglers. George’s political experience is rooted in Washington, DC political media. Before joining TRCP, he worked for CNN serving as Senior Producer for prominent public affairs shows like “Evans and Novak,” “Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer,” and “Reliable Sources.” George also served as a Senior Producer on the White House and Capitol Hill beats. An alumnus of Denison University, Mr. Cooper earned a bachelor’s in history. He and his wife and their two children live in Chevy Chase, Maryland

Nick Seidenberg

Nicholas Seidenberg is a Managing Director at Eastdil Secured, a privately held real estate investment banking firm headquartered in New York. Nick co-leads Eastdil Secured’s Debt Capital Markets division and serves as a member of the nine-person Executive Committee.

Growing up in Minnesota, Nick developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors. From autumn weekends in duck blinds with his father and brother to summers spent fishing on Minnesota’s lakes, these early experiences instilled in him a lifelong love for nature and quality time in nature with loved ones.

Nick and his wife, Casey, have been married for 29 years and reside in Washington, D.C. They have three children whom Nick enjoys taking on hunting and fishing trips to Minnesota, Montana and Rhode Island, continuing a family tradition of bonding through the outdoors.

In addition to his professional achievements, Nick has been actively involved in nonprofit work in Washington, D.C. Most recently, he served on the board of Children’s National Medical Center. Nick earned a B.S. in Applied Economics from Cornell University and an M.B.A. from NYU’s Stern School of Business.

Ashley Smith

Attorney Ashley Smith is a bi-lingual thought leader, group cohesion expert, writer, and national public speaker. Ashley co-founded The Minority Outdoor Alliance with the mission of uniting communities for the enjoyment and conservation of our natural resources. Ashley is also the founder of NOS Global, LLC, which helps organizations uncover how to benefit from an ever-changing world through data-driven strategic planning and organizational cohesion programs.

Ashley has had the honor of giving speeches, facilitating workshops, and hosting large outdoor recreational and educational events for a number of state agencies, conservation organizations, and corporations across the nation.

Ashley completed her undergraduate education at the University of Georgia with degrees in journalism and Spanish. After college, Ashley completed her law degree at Georgia State University College of Law.

Ashley seeks the outdoors as a place to renew and rejuvenate. Ashley likes to meditate, pray, and exercise outdoors. She also enjoys archery, biking, hiking, and fishing. Ashley believes that there is so much more that unites us as human beings than divides us and believes that being outdoors is the perfect setting for memory making, tradition keeping, and connecting with others. Ashley and her husband have a young daughter and son.

Bob Ziehmer

Bob Ziehmer currently serves as the Senior Director of Conservation for Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s where he is responsible for providing direction to advance priorities of protecting wildlife and habitat, connecting new audiences to the outdoors, and advocating for sportsmen’s rights and the outdoors. Bob serves as a liaison with state and federal agencies and over sixty national non-governmental groups to encourage advancement of projects, policy, and regulations advancing conservation and protecting our outdoor heritage.

Prior to joining Bass Pro Shops, Bob served over 25 years (6 ½ years as Director) with the Missouri Department of Conservation, where his work included: ensuring Missouri remained a national leader in forest, fish and wildlife research, management, and education; and served as a member of the Governor’s Cabinet, among others.

Bob has an unwavering passion for hunting, angling, and other outdoor adventures. His father’s commitment to spending time afield with him instilled the importance of conservation and our individual responsibilities to manage fish and wildlife for future generations, which he has passed along to his children.

Bob is a professional member of the Boone & Crockett Club. He currently serves as a national board member of: Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation; Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports; and National Deer Association.

Four members also concluded their time with the TRCP Board of Directors in December: James A. Baker IV, who served as TRCP board chair from 2021 – 2023; Bill Demmer, who helped establish the Bill and Linda Demmer Chief Conservation Officer position; Tod Sedgewick; and Aileen Lee. Their dedication to the TRCP mission and efforts to help advance America’s legacy of conservation, habitat, and access are to be applauded.

by: TRCP Staff

posted in: Highlights

January 6, 2025

TRCP Announces New Development and Conservation Leadership

Key positions filled to strengthen conservation and development programs

Today, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership announces changes to leadership positions that will help the organization achieve its mission to guarantee all Americans quality places to hunt and fish.

Al Clark joins TRCP as the organization’s chief development officer, bringing over 21 years of development and conservation experience to the organization. In his most recent role as national director of development of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Clark advanced the nonprofit’s fundraising activities and major gift development. His professional background includes development leadership roles at Ducks Unlimited as well as in higher education at Furman University and Wofford College.

At TRCP, Clark will lead a talented team of development managers for growth in philanthropic and foundation giving, build corporate partner relationships, and oversee the organization’s hallmark annual event, the Capital Conservation Awards Dinner.

TRCP is also proud to announce the promotion of tenured staff to two senior leadership positions in the conservation program.

Joel Webster will serve as the Bill and Linda Demmer Chief Conservation Officer. In this role, he will work with TRCP’s policy team, external partners, and decision makers to further conservation and access priorities for private lands, public lands, marine fisheries, and water.

Webster has helped advance TRCP’s conservation portfolio since 2007 and is a member of the federal Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council, where he advises the secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on habitat and access policy. He also serves as the vice chair of American Wildlife Conservation Partners, a coalition of 50 leading hunting and wildlife conservation organizations.

Madeleine West will lead as vice president of western conservation. First joining TRCP in 2019, West will work to advance a wide range of federal and state policies, including those focused on wildlife migration and winter range conservation, forest management, backcountry area conservation, energy policy, special places conservation, and expanded public access.

“I am pleased to announce these additions to TRCP’s leadership team. Al, Joel, and Madeleine each bring a strong passion for conservation and the TRCP mission and are proven leaders in our conservation community,” said Joel Pedersen, TRCP president and CEO. “I look forward to working with them as TRCP continues to build on our past successes. They will provide excellent stewardship to TRCP’s partners and community of hunters and anglers as we continue to advance America’s legacy of conservation, habitat, and access.”

Learn more about TRCP’s leadership HERE. 

by: TRCP Staff

posted in: Highlights

December 30, 2024

Hunters & Anglers Celebrate Temporary Oil and Gas Withdrawal in Nevada’s Ruby Mountains

The Sportsmen for the Rubies Coalition encourages strong collaboration as the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service seeks public input

Today, Nevada hunters and anglers celebrate the Bureau of Land Management’s announcement of a two-year oil and gas leasing moratorium on 264,000 acres in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The BLM manages the subsurface minerals, including oil and gas, beneath the national forest. This moratorium is a significant first step toward long-term conservation of crucial habitat for big game and coldwater fish species located within the Ruby Mountains.

The federal segregation notice, which was issued today by the Department of the Interior, removes the Ruby Mountains from oil and gas leasing for two years while the department further considers whether to implement a longer-term oil and gas withdrawal for the area. The Sportsmen for the Rubies Coalition understands resource extraction plays an important role in Nevada’s economy and provides jobs for its residents. However, the U.S. Geological Survey classifies the Rubies as having very low to no energy potential. The Rubies are far more valuable for hunting and fishing than speculative oil and gas development.

The Sportsmen for the Rubies coalition applauds this action and thanks Nevada Representative Amodei and Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen for being champions of conservation efforts in the Rubies for many years. The coalition urges Congress to pass the bipartisan Ruby Mountains Protection Act in the 119th Congress in order to make these temporary conservation measures permanent.

“This is a major victory for mule deer and everyone that loves to hunt them,” said Jim Rackley, president of Nevada Muleys. “We’ve been working for nearly a decade with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and political leaders in Nevada to conserve this landscape, and we sincerely appreciate everybody, particularly the hunters, who have stepped up for one of Nevada’s most iconic mule deer landscapes.”

“The Rubies are one of Nevada’s most iconic landscapes,” said Carl Erquiaga, Nevada field representative for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “From the trophy mule deer to the native Lahontan cutthroat, this range provides hunters and anglers with coveted opportunities. We look forward to working with the state and BLM to maintain the excellent hunting and fishing qualities of the Rubies.”

“The Rubies offer sheep, mountain goats, and many other animals some of the best habitat in the state,” said Marc Selph, president of Elko Bighorns Unlimited. “This announcement is the first step in ensuring that those animals will remain there for generations.”

“The alpine lakes and streams in the Ruby Mountains provide high-quality habitat for trout,” said Russ Meyer, president of Trout Unlimited’s Sagebrush Chapter in Nevada. “The range is home to the threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout, as well as thriving populations of four other trout species that furnish important recreational opportunities. The Rubies are an angler’s paradise in the most arid state in the nation, and their riparian areas contribute habitat for many non-aquatic species as well. We thank Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen and Representative Amodei for their continued support of these conservation efforts.”

“Sportsmen consider the Ruby Mountains as the ‘Crown Jewels’ of our mountain ranges, being one of the rare places that host Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, mountain goats, elk, mule deer, and the rare Himalayan snowcock in breathtaking scenery,” said Larry Johnson, president of the Coalition for Nevada’s Wildlife. “With the ever increasing development pressure by man, the Rubies deserve every degree of protection that it can be afforded.”

“From the iconic big game species such as the mule deer and bighorn sheep to coldwater fish species and wild chukar and Himalayan snowcock, the Rubies are the crown jewel of northeast Nevada,” said Russell Kuhlman, Executive Director of the Nevada Wildlife Federation. “Hunters and anglers, bipartisan politics, and the support of these federal agencies has resulted in a decision that lays the groundwork to conserve this region for generations. And our coalition will be there every step of the way.”

“Nevada’s Ruby Mountains are truly a public lands treasure enjoyed by hunters and anglers. We thank the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management for their action to conserve this landscape for the next twenty years and we share our appreciation with Nevada’s congressional delegation for their leadership in advocating for the permanent protection of the Rubies,” said Dallas Hatch, Board Member for the Nevada Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and Elko County resident. “This incredible landscape supports all kinds of wildlife and alpine lakes that hold fish such as the native Lahontan cutthroat trout. High on the mountain peaks, you may find mountain goats, bighorn sheep, Himalayan snowcocks, and even the occasional pika. Lower down the mountains, there are herds of mule deer and elk, as well as a growing population of Shiras moose, the newest game species to be found on the Nevada landscape.”

The Sportsmen for the Rubies Coalition includes Trout Unlimited, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Nevada Muleys, Nevada Bighorns Unlimited, Nevada Waterfowl Association, Coalition for Nevada’s Wildlife, Nevada Sporting Dog Alliance, Nevada Bighorns Unlimited Midas Chapter, Nevada Bighorns Unlimited Fallon Chapter, Nevada Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Nevada Chukar Chasers, Ruby Mountain Fly Fishers, Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn, Elko Bighorns Unlimited, and the Nevada Wildlife Federation.

Photo Credit: J. Harsha

by: Aaron Field

posted in: Highlights

December 23, 2024

A Last-Minute Farm Bill Extension Fails America’s Hunters and Anglers

TRCP urges Congress to pass a Farm Bill in 2025

After years of partisan gridlock, Congress once again missed an opportunity to do right by hunters and anglers, not to mention farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, and rural communities. We at the TRCP have spent over two decades demonstrating the value of Farm Bill conservation programs. There are simply no better federal tools to encourage conservation on private lands, and for years, around four times as many agricultural producers have been trying to use them than funding allows. Congress had a chance to meet more of this demand and just plain blew it.

In August 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act using the budget reconciliation process. It was admittedly a partisan bill at the time, but the funds it allocated to Farm Bill conservation programs have since gained bipartisan support, especially among representatives of rural states and Congressional districts. In fact, both versions of the Farm Bill introduced this year this year (by House Ag Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) and Senate Ag Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), respectively) would have brought those funds into the Conservation Title baseline, making them permanent.

As late as last week, Ag Committee leadership from both parties had reached an agreement to incorporate these funds into the baseline as part of a one-year Farm Bill extension. As the week went on, this deal fell apart, jeopardizing a generational opportunity to invest in agricultural conservation. Congress did pass a last-minute farm bill extension as part of a larger continuing resolution package, but one without a boost to conservation programs and without any funding at all for the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program.

There is plenty of blame to go around, and we won’t parse it out here, but this was a clear example of partisan politics and unwillingness to negotiate causing a widely supported, bipartisan proposal to fail. The hunting and fishing community should be disappointed, as has been articulated by our partners, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever here, and The Nature Conservancy, here.

But as our namesake, Theodore Roosevelt, said: “Complaining about a problem without proposing a solution is called whining.” It’s too late to get this done this Congress, so what can legislators do now?

Pass a Farm Bill Now.

It’s now been six years since Congress completed a comprehensive update of our nation’s ag policy. In 2025, the Ag Committees will be working with new leadership, new members, and a new budget, but both Republicans and Democrats put forward Farm Bill text in 2024, so we don’t have to start from scratch. Congress can get a practical, bipartisan Farm Bill that invests in conservation done quickly if they can find a way to work together. If they don’t, we will see another year of partisanship and missed opportunities. Both habitat and access will pay the price.

In the face of gridlock, conservation is, and should be, a shared priority regardless of party affiliation or ideology. Congress needs to hear that this is important to you. Stay up to date at trcp.org/farm-bill.