Federal Affairs
SCI is the only pro-hunting organization with an office in Washington, D.C. that has full-time policy experts, in-house legal counsel and on-staff dedicated to protecting hunting everywhere.
SCI monitors, evaluates and lobbies on federal legislation impacting hunting, hunters and wildlife conservation. SCI ensures that hunting interests are at the forefront when important bills come up by building relationships with Congressional leaders as well as staying current on the issues.
Each year in May, SCI hosts Lobby Day where SCI members from all around the country come to Washington, D.C. for personal meetings with Senators, Representatives and their staffs. During these important lobbying opportunities, SCI members share SCI’s positions on key pieces of legislation. These visits also provide SCI members with an opportunity to highlight the organization, its achievements and assets. SCI’s Washington, D.C. hunter advocacy staff provide federal legislators with information about SCI’s concerns and interests throughout the year.
On The Issues
Recent Federal Affairs Articles
SCI Sends Letter to Interior Over Gray Wolf Battle
Today, Safari Club International (SCI) joined 23 other hunting and conservation organizations, representing millions of sportsmen and women across the country, in a letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. These organizations “respectfully request that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) appeal the February 10, 2022, decision from the U.S.
Read MoreThis week, SCI’s litigation team submitted an amicus brief in an unusual case that potentially impacts outfitters, guides, and public access to federal lands.
In 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order which raises the minimum wage for federal contractors to $15 per hour and requires time-and-a-half for overtime hours (above 40 hours). The Order applies to “contract like instruments” related to federal lands. The Department of Labor (DOL) interpreted the Order to cover permits for
Read MoreThe FWS Should Grant Elephant Permits from Namibia and Zimbabwe—The Future of the Species Depends on It
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has an easy decision to make. The FWS must decide whether to issue eight permits to import elephant hunting trophies from Zimbabwe and Namibia. Those countries together conserve increasing populations of over 100,000 elephants. Both countries have internationally-recognized community conservation programs that depend largely on elephant
Read MoreSCI Defends the Freedom to Hunt in Letter to FWS Director Martha Williams
Today, SCI was joined by forty other conservation and hunting organizations, representing millions of sportsmen and women across the United States, in a letter to the Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams demanding that hunting opportunities on National Wildlife Refuges be maintained. This letter responds to recent settlement discussions
Read MoreSCI Supports Congress’ Decision to Remove Section 436 from the 2022 Appropriations Package
Thanks to strong and consistent opposition from Safari Club International (SCI), members of Congress, and African wildlife officials, the 2022 appropriations package has successfully passed through the legislative process without Section 436 included, which would have banned the importation into the U.S of sport-hunted elephants or lions from Tanzania, Zimbabwe,
Read MoreSafari Club International Joins USFWS in Celebrating Historic Funding Announcement
Safari Club International (SCI) joins the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in celebrating the recent announcement of a record $1.5 billion in annual funding through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Program to support state and local outdoor recreational opportunities, wildlife and habitat conservation efforts, and hunting and fishing education.
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