On December 17, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) voted to advance the recently introduced America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (S. 3051) out of Committee on a bipartisan voice vote.
In advance of the Committee’s vote on S. 3051, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) sent a letter to the Committee in support of the bill. Additionally, CSF sent an alert to the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Members who serve on EPW urging their support for this bill.
The America’s Conservation Enhancement Act was introduced by CSC Member and EPW Chairman John Barrasso as well as CSC Member and EPW Ranking Member Tom Carper on December 12. S. 3051 includes many provisions that will conserve fish and wildlife habitat, help combat wildlife disease, and increase public access for hunting, fishing, and other outdoor-dependent recreation. CSF is supportive of the entirety of S. 3051, but is particularly supportive of the following long-standing provisions for the sporting-conservation community:
“The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation applauds EPW Committee Chairman Barrasso and Ranking Member Carper for introducing S. 3051, and the Committee as a whole for swiftly voting to pass this bill,” said CSF President Jeff Crane. “By including provisions that authorize funding to some of our most important conservation programs, establishing innovative ways to combat wildlife diseases, and providing much needed flexibility to our nation’s state wildlife agencies, the Committee continues to demonstrate their support of America’s sportsmen and women.”
S. 3051 now awaits further action in the Senate.
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?
