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The bipartisan leadership of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) has once again banded together to advance sportsmen’s interests in the Senate. CSC Chairs Senators Tester and Thune introduced the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 as an amendment to the 2012 Farm Bill (S. 3240).
Senator Tester said, “When I talk to hunters and anglers, their biggest concern is access to public lands. This common sense legislation combines the best ideas from Republicans and Democrats to ensure that the best places to hunt and fish are available to sportsmen and women. As Chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, I’ll keep fighting for them.”
This amendment is essential to the expansion and enhancement of hunting and recreational fishing and shooting. It is a compilation of a number of different bills that promote and advance our hunting and recreational fishing and shooting heritage. Several of these bills have passed the House of Representatives on a bipartisan basis as part of H.R.4089, The Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012, which was strongly supported by the CSC leadership and members as well as the broader sportsmen’s community.
“I am pleased that this amendment significantly advances the cause of making public lands more accessible for multiple uses including hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation,” said Senator Thune. “Our amendment reauthorizes the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. This amendment also includes language that I’ve advocated for in the past which would ensure that the EPA cannot regulate the use of lead ammunition and lead in fishing gear.”
To highlight a few of the provisions in the amendment, it would:
“Including this amendment in the Farm Bill is a significant step forward for sportsmen in the 112th Congress,” said the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) President, Jeff Crane. “We at the CSF are thrilled the Caucus Chairs have acted in a true bipartisan fashion to take action in advancing a pro-sportsmen agenda with this amendment that protects and enhances sportsmen’s interests. We thank the Caucus members for their commitment and hard work on behalf of our nation’s sportsmen.”
On June 7, the Senate voted to proceed to consideration of the 2012 Farm Bill, where the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 amendment will be proposed for inclusion. The CSF will continue to work with the CSC and will keep you up to date on the progression of the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 and 2012 Farm Bill as they move forward in the Senate.
Contact your Senators today and urge them to support the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 (AMDT 2232) as an amendment to the 2012 Farm Bill.
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?
