April 17, 2012 - Today, The Sportsmen's Heritage
Act of 2012 (H.R. 4089) was passed with a strong
bipartisan vote of 274 to 146 in the House of
Representatives. Sponsored by the leaders of
the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus (CSC),
the bill hit the House floor after being reported
out of the House Committee on Natural Resources
in late February.
current federally designated wilderness in the USA
An amendment supported by The Congressional
Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF) to clarify that the
protection given hunting and fishing in wilderness
areas is not intended to permit motorized recreation,
mineral extraction, etc. was adopted. Three
amendments that the CSF strongly opposed on the
grounds that they would gut key provisions of this
pro-sportsmen legislation were resoundingly defeated.
"I think it is important to recognize the contributions
that sportsmen make to protect our nation's most
precious resources. Outdoor activities like hunting
and fishing are a central part of our heritage and
way of life, but they also help fund a good portion
of our conservation efforts," said CSC co-chair
Congressman Jeff Miller. "We must remain ever
diligent to ensure the rights of sportsmen. Thanks
to the members of the Sportsmen's community,
Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, and the House
Committee on Natural Resources, H.R. 4089 will be
able to address some of the most pressing concerns
the outdoors community faces." The CSF has been diligently working with a
multitude of partners in the conservation
community to gather support for this legislation.
On April 12, 2012, the CSF co-signed a letter,
along with 37 other organizations, that stresses
the need for this legislation and urges Speaker
John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor and
Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to support H.R. 4089.
"This pro-sportsmen's package of bills is the product of the
coordinated efforts of the bipartisan Congressional
Sportsmen's Caucus," said Congressman Mike Ross,
co-chairman of the CSC. "The Sportsmen's Caucus
has long been an advocate for hunters, anglers and
outdoorsmen in our nation's capitol. The passage of
this important legislation is crucial to the protection of
America's outdoor traditions and the advancement of
the rights of hunters and anglers across the nation.
I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Caucus
to promote and protect our sporting heritage."
H.R. 4089 is essential to recognizing the importance
of and facilitating the expansion and enhancement
of hunting and recreational fishing and shooting. It
is a compilation of four different bills (H.R. 2834,
H.R. 3440, H.R. 991 and H.R. 1558) that promote
and advance our hunting and recreational fishing
and shooting heritage. The Sportsmen's Heritage
Act reaffirms that hunting and recreational fishing
and shooting are important and traditional activities
by providing a sound legislative foundation for the
advancement of the sporting heritage. Click here
to learn more about H.R. 4089. "The passage of legislation such as this is
unprecedented and is largely the result of
the bipartisan collaboration of the Congressional
Sportsmen's Caucus," says CSF President,
Jeff Crane. "The CSF has been working with
Caucus leadership and other Caucus members
for several years on a sportsmen's package,
and we are thrilled to see our efforts finally come
to fruition." Specifically, H.R. 4089 includes language that: - requires hunting and recreational shooting
- and fishing to be recognized activities on all
- Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management
- lands;
- protects recreational shooting on National
- Monuments under the jurisdiction of the
- Bureau of Land Management;
- amends the Marine Mammal Protection
- Act to allow hunters who legally harvested
- polar bears in Canada prior to its listing under
- the Endangered Species Act to purchase permits
- in order to transport their trophies into the U.S.;
- and,
- clarifies that the Environmental Protection Agency
- does not have the jurisdiction to regulate lead
- components found in either traditional ammunition
- or fishing tackle.
As H.R. 4089 progresses through Congress, the CSF
will continue to be a voice and an advocate on Capitol
Hill for hunters, anglers and recreational shooters across
our great nation. | 
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