On June 18, the House Rules Committee voted to report H.R. 3055 to the House floor for further consideration and amendments. During the floor amendment process, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) was heavily involved in working with Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Members to incorporate several pro-conservation amendments into H.R. 3055.
This “minibus” funds the Departments of Commerce, Agriculture, and the Interior, among other federal agencies. Amendments included:
CSF also actively opposed Amendment 133, which prevents the USFWS from issuing permits for the importation of elephant or lion trophies from Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Tanzania. This short-sighted and emotionally-driven amendment fails to recognize the contributions of international hunting and the conservation benefits associated with the financial contributions of these activities. Unfortunately, despite strong opposition from the sporting conservation community, this amendment passed on a vote of 239-192.
Prior to the amendment votes on the House floor, CSF sent alerts urging the CSC to support the pro-sporting conservation Amendments 32, 106, and 140; and to oppose Amendment 133.
The House is anticipated to pass H.R. 3055 later this week. CSF will work to ensure the pro-sporting line-items and amendments are included in future appropriations bills and will work to see anti-conservation amendments defeated.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
