On June 16, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) joined other sportsmen’s organizations in sending a letter to Representative Hal Rogers, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and Representative Nita Lowey, the Committee’s Ranking Member, expressing concern over a provision included in Section 203 of the Energy and Water Subcommittee Appropriations Bill, which passed out of the subcommittee on June 10. The provision would divert at least 90% of the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund monies away from its intended statutory purposes to improve refuge and fish projects in the Central Valley of California, to purchases by water contractors.
The letter urged Representatives Rogers and Lowey to remove this provision prior to passage in the full committee, as it would result in the 19 Central Valley federal and state wildlife refuges and Grassland Conservation Districts receiving little to no water this year. This would have devastating effects on fish and wildlife, as well as angling and hunting.
On June 18, in a win for sportsmen and women, the House Appropriation Committee passed the bill by a voice vote that did not include this provision.
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?
