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Hagan pushes to restore sequestered sportsmen trust funds
Story Date: 11/1/2013
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Source: PRESS RELEASE, 10/31/13
U.S. Senator Kay Hagan, Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, sent a letter to Sylvia Burwell, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), requesting that $50 million sequestered from the Wildlife Restoration, Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Safety Trust Funds be returned to the states. Money for the trust funds derive from excise taxes levied on bows and arrows; guns and ammunition; fishing tackle and equipment; and motorboat fuel.
“North Carolina and states across the country depend on this funding to restore and manage fisheries and wildlife habitats, open and maintain recreational access, and provide hunting and boating safety education,” Hagan said. “Moreover, applying sequestration to the trust funds represents a breach in trust between sportsmen and women and industries that pay an excise tax to specifically fund projects that enhance outdoor recreation activities and opportunities.”
In the letter, Hagan noted that in implementing sequestration, OMB is required to follow rules outlined in the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. The act provides that budgetary resources sequestered in trust fund accounts in a fiscal year “shall be available in subsequent years to the extent otherwise provided in law.” A copy of the letter, which is cosigned by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Vice-Chair Senator Mark Pryor, is available HERE.
“We need to find a balanced solution to replace sequestration as soon as possible,” Hagan said. “But returning Sportsmen Trust Fund payments to states is a commonsense step we can take right now to keep our nation’s promise to sportsmen, protect our natural resources, and continue to grow our outdoor recreation economy.”
The following organizations, representing millions of hunters, anglers, scientists, and conservationists support exempting the Sportsmen Trust Funds from sequestration:
American Fly Fishing Trade Association
American Sportfishing Association
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
Archery Trade Association
B.A.S.S. LLC
Berkley Conservation Institute
BoatU.S.
Boone & Crockett Club
Campfire Club of America
Catch-A-Dream Foundation
Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation
Conservation Force
Dallas Safari Club
Delta Waterfowl
Ducks Unlimited
Izaak Walton League of America
Masters of Fox Hounds Association
Mule Deer Foundation
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators
National Marine Manufacturers Association
National Shooting Sports Foundation
National Trappers Association
National Wildlife Federation
National Wild Turkey Federation
North American Bear Foundation
Orion, The Hunter's Institute
Pheasants Forever
Pope & Young Club
Quail Forever
Quality Deer Management Association
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Ruffed Grouse Society
Safari Club International
Shimano American Corp.
Texas Wildlife Association
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
The Conservation Fund
Tread Lightly!
Trout Unlimited
U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance
Wild Sheep Foundation
Wildlife Forever
Wildlife Mississippi
Wildlife Management Institute
Approximately 1.4 million sportsmen call North Carolina home. Hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing are also economic drivers in the state. The Outdoor Industry Association found that outdoor recreation contributes more than $7.5 billion annually to North Carolina's economy, supports 95,000 jobs across in the state, generates $430 million in annual state tax revenue, and produces $6.1 billion annually in retail sales and services across North Carolina.
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