On Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the Hunters’ Embassy is a nexus for promoting sustainable-use wildlife conservation and regulated hunting

On Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the Hunters’ Embassy is a nexus for promoting sustainable-use wildlife conservation and regulated hunting

The Hunters’ Embassy is the home base for SCI’s efforts to promote sustainable-use wildlife conservation at home and abroad, and to protect our hunting heritage.  SCI’s Legal, State and Local, International, and Federal teams all work from the Embassy.  To leverage our unique position right on Capitol Hill, the Hunters’ Embassy hosts monthly “Lunch and Learns” and other professional events to educate members of Congress and Congressional staff and further the protection and advancement of all aspects of the outdoor lifestyle.

Lunch and Learns

“Lunch and Learns” at the Hunters’ Embassy have covered a number of issues related to the Center’s interests, including how the Pittman-Robertson Act works to generate funding for wildlife conservation around the country; how the Federal Land Policy and Management Act protects access to public lands; how the Endangered Species Act was intended to conserve foreign species; how international trade in wildlife is regulated; and much more.

2025

June 10: James Cummins, Executive Director of Wildlife Mississippi and Vice-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation led a course on the Endangered Species Act and the Wildlife Habitat Recovery Credit, including improvements to expand the credit to species of greatest conservation need.

Kaitlynn Glover, Executive Director of the Public Lands Council, led a course for congressional staffers representing 16 different states discussing the importance of public land access and multiple use mandates.

SCI’s Senior Litigation Counsel Regina Lennox led a Lunch and Learn course for Congressional staffers representing 12 different states.  Regina provided a briefing on the Endangered Species Act and managing recovered species under the ESA, such as the gray wolf and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bear population.

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2024

Brant MacDuff, conservation and taxidermy historian and author of “The Shotgun Conservationist,” led a lunch and learn attended by dozens of Congressional staff.  Brant discussed conservation economics and the success of the North American Model of Conservation and conservation hunting around the world.

Aaron Bannon, Executive Director of America Outdoors, led a course for over 30 Congressional staffers discussing the process for securing permits as an outfitter on federal land.  Aaron explained how such activities expand access to public lands for tens of thousands of Americans.  He also discussed potential improvements offered in the EXPLORE Act (H.R. 6492), as well as how new labor regulations are harming outdoors services on federal lands.

SCI welcomed over 25 Congressional staffers to learn about issues important to hunters.  SCI Deputy Director for Advocacy Chris Tymeson, along with Brian Calabrese of the National Rifle Association and Dan Wrinn of Ducks Unlimited, spoke about the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, the importance of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, and the successes of hunter-led conservation programs.

Over 30 Congressional staff members attended SCI’s “Lunch and Learn” about the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), led by SCI Litigation Counsel and International Affairs Liaison Jeremy Clare.  Jeremy explained what CITES is, how the U.S. implements CITES, and recent federal regulations impacting CITES and international hunting.

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Dr. Chris Comer, Director of Conservation for the Safari Club International Foundation, led a Lunch and Learn on Predator Management for over 30 Congressional staffers.  Dr. Comer walked through the importance of predator hunting and predator control as tools in state agencies’ toolboxes.

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2023

SCI welcomed House and Senate Congressional staff to our DC headquarters for the very first “Lunch and Learn” program, about the Endangered Species Act at 50 Years.  SCI Senior Litigation Counsel Regina Lennox led the briefing, discussing the ESA’s structure, legislative history, how it was previously revised, and where it is and it not working effectively.

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