Jul 26, 2018

Don't just complain; come to the Capitol and make a difference!

Don't just complain about laws you don't like - join California Waterfowl at the state Capitol on Aug. 8 to talk to lawmakers and their staffs about how proposed laws affect waterfowl, wetlands and hunting!

A huge part of California Waterfowl's public policy efforts involves educating lawmakers about waterfowl conservation issues and the role hunting plays in conservation. Our policy team does a great job, but it's important for lawmakers to hear from ordinary waterfowl enthusiasts and hunters, too.

We'll start the day with a breakfast meeting where we prep you for the conversations you'll have that day, then we'll start hitting lawmakers' offices - including the governor's. Lunch and parking are on us! The entire event will run from 8 a.m. to about 5 p.m.

Here are some of the things we'll be talking to lawmakers about that day:

Combo hunting-fishing license
SB 1311 (Berryhill, R-Modesto): a CWA-sponsored bill that would create a discounted annual combination hunting and fishing license. View our letter (PDF) here.

Nesting habitat incentive
AB 2697 (Gallagher, R-Yuba City): a CWA-sponsored bill that would create a waterfowl and upland game bird nesting habitat incentive program for farmers who wish to fallow a portion of their land. View our letter (PDF) here.

Importing African animal parts
SB1487 (Stern, D-Canoga Park): a bill that would prohibit importing parts of the following animals from Africa: African elephant, African lion, leopard, black rhinoceros, white rhinoceros, giraffe, Jentink’s duiker, plains zebra, mountain zebra, hippopotamus and striped hyena; and create fines of $5,000 to $40,000 for the first offense. View our letter (PDF) here.

Read more about legislation CWA is advocating for or against, as well as the letters we've written to lawmakers, here.

To attend Lobby Day at the Capitol, contact CWA Vice President for Public Policy and Legislative Affairs Mark Hennelly at mhennelly@calwaterfowl.org.