Tester takes gavel as leader of Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus

Senator outlines priorities as caucus chairman: guns, access, protecting outdoor heritage

(U.S. Senate) – Senator Jon Tester has taken over the gavel as the new chair of the bipartisan Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus for the next two years.

During a Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus event Monday night, Tester told his colleagues he plans to use his chairmanship to strengthen gun rights, improve access to public land, and fight for clean water and healthy wildlife. 

“As a farmer and sportsman, I know the outdoors isn’t just what we do for fun on the weekends – it’s a part of Montana’s heritage and our way of life,” Tester said. “I’m proud to stand up for that heritage in the Senate so that my kids and grandkids will be able to continue to enjoy that heritage that includes hunting, fishing, hiking and camping.”

As Chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, Tester plans to introduce a number of bills dealing with the outdoors in the coming weeks.  Today he introduced the Dirt Bike Bill, amending the Consumer Product Safety Act to allow manufacturers and dealers to sell kid-sized motorized dirt bikes and ATVs.

Other bills Tester plans to introduce is a bill for a permanent extension of Conservation Easements and a bill affirming the right to hunt and fish on federal lands. 

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus is a bipartisan caucus made up of members from the House and Senate.