On September 9, nearly 50 leading organizations from the hunting and angling conservation community urged movement of two comprehensive sportsmen’s packages through Congress.
The first letter was sent to the Senate Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and Environment and Public Works in support of the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act (S. 405), which was introduced in February by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) members Senators Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Martin Heinrich (NM) along with the CSC leadership. The letter noted that despite strong support from the community, similar legislation “fell victim to procedural gridlock short of Senate passage in both the 112th and 113th Congresses,” and encouraged prompt scheduling of markups in both Committees.
The second letter, addressed to the House Committee on Natural Resources, urged movement of the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act (H.R. 2406), which was introduced in May by CSC Co-Chair Congressman Rob Wittman (VA) and CSC leadership. Similar legislation passed the House during the 113th Congress.
Both pro-sportsmen’s packages aim to enhance America’s hunting and angling traditions, and promote fish and wildlife habitat and conservation.
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?
