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Hagan introduces comprehensive sportsmen’s package with key programs for North Carolina
Story Date: 11/7/2013
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Source: PRESS RELEASE, 11/6/13
U.S. Senator Kay Hagan, Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, today introduced a comprehensive legislative package that includes policies that benefit America’s sportsmen and women and strengthen the outdoor economy in North Carolina and nationwide. The Sportsmen's and Public Outdoor Recreation Traditions (SPORT) Act includes a range of bills introduced by both Republicans and Democrats. It expands access to federal public lands for hunting and fishing, improves wildlife habitats, and reforms current laws and regulations that keep people from enjoying the outdoors.
“This bill is first and foremost about jobs,” said Hagan. “Hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing are important parts of North Carolina’s heritage, as well as crucial economic drivers in our state. As Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus and as a Senator representing 1.5 million sportsmen, I am committed to protecting these time-honored traditions. Many of these traditions have been handed down through my own family, and we love to spend time together hunting, fishing or just enjoying the outdoors. This package combines the best ideas from Republicans and Democrats to enhance opportunities for hunting, fishing and shooting while strengthening our economy. I look forward to working with stakeholders in North Carolina and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to move this bill forward.”
The Senator’s comprehensive package includes the reauthorization of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), which will enable North Carolina to continue efforts to protect habitat for migratory birds. To date, NAWCA has funded 22 projects in North Carolina that have helped conserve nearly 70,000 acres of wildlife habitat in the state. NAWCA is also cost-effective, with every dollar of federal funding traditionally generating three dollars in non-federal money.
Another provision in the package will exempt vital sportsmen trust funds that are funded through excise taxes on hunters, anglers, and related equipment from budget sequestration. Last week, Senator Hagan sent a letter urging Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Sylvia Burwell to release the $50 million sequestered from the Trust Funds in FY2013. Joining the Senator on the letter was Senator John Thune, the Republican Co-Chair of the Sportsmen’s Caucus, and Senators Mark Pryor and Jim Risch, the Democrat and Republican Vice-Chairs of the Caucus. Money for the trust funds derive from excise taxes levied on bows and arrows; guns and ammunition; fishing tackle and equipment; and motorboat fuel.
The Senator’s SPORT Act would permanently exempt Sportsmen’s Trust Funds from the budget sequester.
“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.”
The Outdoor Industry Association found that outdoor recreation contributes more than $19 billion annually to North Carolina's economy, supports 192,000 jobs in the state and generates $1.3 billion in state and local tax revenue.
Other provisions in the package include:
• Making Public Lands Public, which improves access to existing federal public lands that have significantly restricted access for hunting, fishing and other recreational purposes;
• The Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act, cosponsored by Senator Hagan, which helps states build and maintain public shooting ranges and promote firearm safety;
• The Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Protection Act, which excludes ammo and fishing tackle from the Toxic Substances Control Act, leaving decisions about tackle to state fish and game agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;
• The Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act, which grants the Secretary of the Interior permanent authority to authorize any state to issue electronic duck stamps.
Organizations supporting Senator Hagan’s SPORT Act include:
North Carolina State Council of Trout Unlimited
North Carolina Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation
North Carolina Wildlife Federation
North Carolina Bowhunters Association
North Carolina Camo Coalition
Gordon Myers, Executive Director of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, endorsed the Senator’s bill saying:
“This comprehensive package includes key provisions to protect and improve access to public lands and further conservation of wildlife and their habitat. This is accomplished by maintaining and enhancing long-standing programs that are built on foundations of public-private partnerships.”
Jim Cogdell, Chairman of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Commissioners, said:
“This legislation recognizes the importance of working together to accomplish critical conservation and public access objectives that are core values of North Carolina's and America's sportsmen and women.”
Michael R. ‘Squeak’ Smith, Chairman of the Resource Institute, said:
“Senator Hagan's Sportsmen's bill should receive widespread and enthusiastic bipartisan support, because it finally establishes and advances legislation that sportsmen and women, outdoor wildlife enthusiasts and all users of Federal Lands in North Carolina and nationwide have requested and long fought to have enacted. The Senator’s bill will protect and enhance opportunities for recreational hunting, fishing, and shooting, designate existing funds to improve public access, and provide funding to enhance water quality through land and water conservation and other restoration efforts. I applaud Senator Hagan for her leadership on this very important bill.”
Eddie Smith, Chairman and CEO of Grady-White Boats, said:
"I am delighted to see Senator Kay Hagan sponsor this omnibus sportsmen’s package which combines a number of legislative issues that have a positive effect on anglers and hunters nationwide. Senator Hagan, as Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, understands that sportsmen are the leaders of conservation efforts. This bill will increases public access to fish and hunt and creates added value for local economies."
Tim Gestwicki, Executive Director of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, said:
“I applaud Senator Hagan for her leadership and support for policies that are important to members of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and to hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts in our state and nationwide. The bill's habitat conservation measures will help ensure that future generations are able to enjoy the outdoor recreation opportunities that we have today. In addition, Senator Hagan's package will not only benefit sportsmen and women in North Carolina, they will also help attract outdoor enthusiasts from other states and help our rural economies continue to recover.”
Eddie Bridges, Founder and Executive Director of the North Carolina Wildlife Habitat Foundation, and National Budweiser Conservationist of the Year, said:
“I am not aware of a person that is more dedicated to the one million sportsmen in North Carolina than Senator Hagan. She and her family are members of the North Carolina Wildlife Habitat Foundation and support its causes. Most of them are holders of the North Carolina lifetime hunting and fishing licenses. She is a staunch supporter of the rights of our sportsmen and gun ownership, and I am pleased she is introducing this important bill.”
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