On March 30, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed Senate Bill 733, a bipartisan bill entitled the “Sportsmen’s Act.” The bill’s purposes include to “protect and enhance opportunities for recreational hunting, fishing, and shooting.” S.733 was introduced on March 27 by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jim Risch (R-ID), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND). Just three days later, the Senate Committee passed the bill by a voice vote.
This latest version of the Sportsmen’s Act includes a number of provisions designed to improve opportunities and access for hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, and those who provide services to the sportsmen’s community. S. 733 also increases agency transparency and accountability for the decision-making that affects hunters and the resources that federal agencies use to provide hunting opportunities.
Key provisions in S. 733 include:
Although the bill contains numerous sections providing benefit to hunters, it does not include several provisions that had been part of earlier versions of the Sportsmen’s Act and that are of particular interest to SCI members (e.g., importation of polar bears harvested in 2014). S. 733 represents a significant start in this Congress’ effort to adopt important sportsmen’s legislation. SCI will be working with both the House and the Senate toward passage of a bill that will address S.733’s provisions as well as others of concern to our members. Please continue to monitor your SCI communications and publications for updates on this issue.
Yesterday, the U.S. Senate approved House Joint Resolution 69 with a vote of 52 to 47. This legislation previously passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 225 to 193.
If signed by the President, H.J. Res 69 would nullify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) rule, “Non-Subsistence Take of Wildlife, and Public Participation and Closure Procedures, on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska.” Please contact President Trump today and urge him to sign H.J. Res. 69 into law immediately!
The FWS rule prohibited forms of hunting on all National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska and interfered with Alaska’s ability to manage wildlife within its borders.
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SCI has led the hunting community in challenging the FWS rule and in fighting for state authority over the management of fish and wildlife and the regulation of hunting, including by filing a lawsuit to challenge the FWS rule and similar regulations adopted by the National Park Service for National Preserves in Alaska.
SCI celebrates the Senate approval of H.J. Res. 69, together with Alaska’s legislative leaders, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the Alaska Board of Game and the numerous sportsmen’s organizations who aggressively pursued this Congressional nullification of the FWS rule.
While a final victory is close, our work is not yet done. H.J. Res. 69 now heads to the President’s desk. Please contact President Trump and urge him to sign H.J. Res. 69 into law.
