11.20.15

Hoeven and Senate Energy Committee Pass Sportsmen's Bill

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy Committee, today announced that the committee has passed bipartisan sportsmen’s legislation. The legislation reauthorizes important conservation programs, improves access to federal lands and helps to boost the outdoor recreation economy. 

“Hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation activities are an important part of our state’s culture and economy,” said Hoeven. “The Sportsmen’s Act will help improve opportunities for our sportsmen and women, while also helping to grow this important sector of our economy.”

In March, at a Senate Energy Committee hearing, the senator stressed the economic benefits of the sportsmen’s legislation, which would increase access to hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation opportunities. Jeffrey Crane, President of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, testified that the U.S. outdoor recreation industry has a collective annual economic impact of $90 billion currently, and if this legislation passes that should increase.

The Sportsmen’s Act of 2015 contains a range of provisions including:

  • The Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage Opportunities Act, which protects the public’s right to recreational hunting, fishing and shooting on Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands.
  • Bows Transported through National Parks provision to prevent the National Park Service from restricting the lawful transport of bows and crossbows through national parks. Currently, firearms can be transported through national parks, but not bows.
  • The HUNT Act, which directs all federal public land management agencies to improve access to high priority federal lands where hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation are permitted.
  • The Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act, which helps states build and maintain shooting ranges on federal lands.

Hoeven has been a member of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus since January 2011.

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