Bryant given conservation award
STONEVILLE – Governor Phil Bryant, cochairman of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus, met in February with other governors from around the country and representatives from the sportsmen’s community in Washington, DC.
The occasion was the annual winter meeting of the National Governors Association and an awards reception hosted by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.
The GSC, formed in 2009 with its inaugural meeting in Biloxi is a bipartisan caucus of governors that facilitates communication and information exchange between participating governors in support of policies that promote and advance hunting, angling, recreational shooting and trapping. Guided by a bipartisan leadership team of governors and staffed through the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the GSC complements and enhances the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus and the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses. Presently, the bipartisan GSC consists of 32 governors and one lieutenant governor.
Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation President Jeff Crane welcomed the governors and other attendees and presented the event’s theme.
“The American System of Conservation Funding: 80 Years of Success.” Crane said, “Since this year is the 80th Anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, known as the American System of Conservation Funding, this is a great opportunity to recognize the crucial contributions that sportsmen and women have made across the country. We would like to thank governors who signed proclamations recognizing those contributions in the past and look forward to working with many governors again this year on promoting the sportsmen’s heritage and conservation.”
Bryant, the GSC CoChair, was presented the GSC 2017 Heritage Award for his dedication to advancing fish and wildlife conservation and the sportsmen’s heritage. “Helping to protect and advance hunting and angling during my tenure as Governor has been highlighted by my four years in leadership of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus,” Bryant said. “I am proud of the work we are doing in Mississippi and the work you are doing across the country to ensure that America’s sporting traditions continue on for future generations.”
Wildlife Mississippi executive director James L. Cummins has enjoyed his time working with Bryant and enjoying many days afield with him over the past several years.
Cummins considers Bryant a true sportsman and conservationist.
“We are fortunate to have such an avid outdoorsman as the CEO of our great state,” Cummins said. “There is no Governor who loves hunting and fishing or works daily to advance conservation more than Phil Bryant. Our nation needs more people with his fine traits.
“We need more people who are willing to devote their lives to making the government responsive to the needs of ordinary citizens and respectful of their opinions. On behalf of the millions of outdoor enthusiasts throughout America, I appreciate his hard work and congratulate him on such a well-deserved award.”