Senator Roger Marshall
Safari Club International (SCI) is proud to announce U.S. Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas has been named 2020 SCI Federal Legislator of the Year. Senator Marshall, who was sworn in as Kansas’ junior senator this past January, previously represented the 1st Congressional district of Kansas from 2017 until 2021.
Senator Marshall is an obstetrician who proudly spends as much time as possible hunting and fishing. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting upland birds, waterfowl, and turkeys, as well as bowhunting deer, fishing, and boating.
Senator Marshall proudly serves on four Senate Committees: Energy and Natural Resources; Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; and Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
Senator Marshall is recognized as an advocate for the sportsmen’s community after he pressed U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland at her confirmation hearing to clarify her support for hunting. Additionally, earlier this year, he announced $55 million for regional conservation projects in Kansas to support both regional conservation and outdoor recreation safety and educational opportunities.
Senator Marshall boasts on his website that a total of $1 billion is being allocated to state wildlife agencies through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR). Through the Pittman–Robertson Act of 1937, the Dingell–Johnson Act of 1950, and the Wallop–Breaux Amendment of 1984, the WSFR program establishes a conservation partnership among state wildlife agencies, the outdoor industry and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS.) When hunters, anglers and boaters purchase equipment and fuel, the manufacturers, producers, and importers of those goods pay into the Wildlife Restoration, Sport Fish Restoration and Boating trust funds. These funds are distributed by the USFWS to ensure wildlife agencies in all states, commonwealths, and territories receive support.
When speaking on the announcement, Senator Marshall said, “I grew up hunting and fishing with my father and have spent countless hours doing the same with my sons and grandsons. I want to leave our world better than we found it and by improving habitats and our environment, we not only care for fish and wildlife but provide better outdoor recreation opportunities for everyone. These dollars are an important part of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks efforts to provide not only conservation efforts but help a new generation of Kansans learn to love the outdoors.”
Senator Marshall and his wife Laina live in Great Bend, Kansas. They have four children– Lauren, Victor, Matt, and Cal.
Representative Bruce Westerman
Safari Club International (SCI) is proud to announce U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman of Arkansas has been named 2021 SCI Federal Legislator of the Year. Rep. Westerman has represented the 4th district of Arkansas since 2015.
As an avid sportsman and steadfast partner of SCI, Rep. Westerman enjoys spending time hunting and fishing, especially on Lake Ouachita.
Congressman Westerman is a champion for hunters on Capitol Hill. As Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Westerman is the highest-ranking Republican on the most important committee to sportsmen in the House of Representatives. Rep. Westerman also serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
In addition to joining SCI last year for the Virtual Advocacy Tour, Rep. Westerman attended Safari Club’s 2nd Annual Virtual Advocacy Week as a featured guest and spoke on several issues ranging from the Trillion Trees Act to dangerous legislation that would ban the import, possession, and transport of wildlife species legally hunted abroad.
“(SCI) over the years has become much more than about big game animals in Africa and what great champions we have for hunting around the world, for conservation around the world… Great activity is taking place all across the country where true conservation is being employed. Get involved. Get more of your friends involved in it and keep being a voice and be educated,” said Congressman Bruce Westerman. “Understand the science behind it. Understand what real conservation is and be a voice for it.”
Rep. Westerman and his wife Sharon live in Hot Springs, Arkansas. They have four children— Asa, Amie, Eli, and Ethan.
