Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation

WASHINGTON, DC –-(AmmoLand.com)- The United States House of Representative today passed a major piece of pro-sportsmen legislation to help firearm and ammunition manufacturers to grow business and help strengthen wildlife conservation funding.

H.R. 5552 the “Firearms Excise Tax Improvement Act of 2010” or so-called FAET legislation, sponsored by current Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Member and former Co-Chair, Rep. Ron Kind, co-sponsored by 76 House members including many members of the CSC, and supported by the sportsmen community, was passed overwhelmingly 412-6 this afternoon.

“Today is a major victory for firearms and ammunition manufacturers who will now be treated equally under the U.S. tax code and as a result will be able to reinvest funds into researching and developing new products, purchasing new manufacturing machinery, and creating jobs,” said CSF President Jeff Crane. “This legislation will help to continue funding major conservation efforts throughout the nation via the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund.”

Rep. Kind introduced this legislation as a revision of H.R. 510, a bill co-sponsored by CSC Co-Chair Rep. Paul Ryan, which aimed to reverse the current practice that requires firearms and ammunition manufacturers to pay excise taxes more frequently (every two weeks) than other sporting goods industries. This payment schedule forces many manufacturers to borrow money to ensure on-time payment, and industry members spend thousands of man-hours administering the paperwork to successfully complete the payments — monies that are due long before manufacturers are paid by their customers.

“I’m proud to have authored this important legislation to help our firearms manufacturers focus on core business practices over frequent tax payments, better reach sportsmen, ultimately grow their business, and continuously support conservation programs nationwide,” said Rep. Kind.

“This legislation harmonizes the tax payment schedule with the other businesses who contribute excise taxes paid into the Pittman-Robertson fund,” said Rep. Ryan. “H.R. 5552 will take away this burdensome tax compliance regulation to make sure that firearms and ammunition manufacturers who provide millions of jobs are an integral part of the backbone of conservation funding in America.”

This bill addresses concerns about the budgetary implications of the original legislation and explicitly complies with statutory Pay-Go rules and does not add a penny to the deficit or create a new tax while also maintaining the current level of conservation dollars generated by the tax.

“This legislation will strengthen wildlife conservation funding in America by helping manufacturers to grow their businesses,” said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane. “We are thankful for the tremendous support and leadership of Rep. Kind and Rep. Ryan, co-chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, for championing this commonsense bill.”

The firearm and ammunition excise tax is the major revenue source for funding the Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund also known as the Pittman Robertson Trust Fund. Last year firearm and ammunition manufacturers contributed approximately $450 million dollars to wildlife conservation through excise tax payments.

The CSC made passage of this bill to reform the federal excise tax a legislative priority in the 111th Congress. The effort was supported by a broad coalition of sportsmen and conservation groups, including the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), National Rifle Association (NRA), and Safari Club International (SCI).

Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation

WASHINGTON, DC --(Ammoland.com)- Rep. Ron Kind, current member and former Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC), recently introduced H.R. 5552 the “Firearms Excise Tax Improvement Act of 2010” to strengthen wildlife conservation funding in America by helping firearm and ammunition manufacturers grow their businesses.

Rep. Kind introduced this legislation as a revision of H.R. 510, a bill co-sponsored by CSC Co-Chair Rep. Paul Ryan, which aimed to reverse the current practice that requires firearms and ammunition manufacturers to pay excise taxes more frequently (every two weeks) than other sporting goods industries. The modified bill addresses concerns about the budgetary implications of the original legislation and explicitly complies with statutory Pay-Go rules and does not add a penny to the deficit or create a new tax.

Switching to a quarterly excise tax payment system would allow manufacturers to reinvest funds into researching and developing new products, purchasing new manufacturing machinery, and most importantly creating jobs. In addition, since proceeds from the excise taxes are used for conservation, the growth of the industry expected upon passage of the legislation would increase funding for conservation efforts.

“This common sense legislation will not only increase business efficiency, but it will allow manufacturers to reinvest funds into research and development and will create jobs in our communities,” said Rep. Kind.

“I have been a long-time supporter of conservation efforts. I’m pleased this bill benefits industry and conservationists alike and continues to contribute critical funding for the development of wildlife restoration projects across the country – ensuring our natural resources are protected for future generations.”

The firearm and ammunition excise tax is the major revenue source for funding the Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund also known as the Pittman Robertson Trust Fund. Last year firearm and ammunition manufacturers contributed approximately $450 million dollars to wildlife conservation through excise tax payments.

“We applaud Congressman Kind for introducing legislation revising the Firearms Excise Tax Improvement Act of 2010 so that it complies with statutory Pay-Go rules and does not add to the deficit,”said National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane.

“This bill will strengthen wildlife conservation funding in America by helping manufacturers to grow their businesses.”

CSF and members of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP) sent a letter of support to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee last week on behalf this latest effort to reform the payment schedule.

“Correcting this inequity will not only help the firearms and ammunition industry remain competitive in the global market, but will also promote increasingly vital conservation efforts,” said CSF Vice President of Policy Gary Kania.

“This legislation provides a rare win-win situation for everyone involved by correcting this inequity will help the industry grow and help fund major conservation efforts.

About:
We can have the best wildlife habitat imaginable and a record number of people who buy fishing and hunting licenses, but it won’t matter if misguided laws and regulations are made at the federal and state levels that negatively impact our outdoor traditions. Keeping sportsmen’s issues front and center is what the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation does. Day in and day out, our sole focus is on providing a voice for sportsmen in the political arena. Serving as the first line of defense in protecting America’s outdoor traditions as well as promoting the sportsmen’s agenda through the collective muscle of sportsmen’s caucuses. Visit: www.sportsmenslink.org

Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation

Washington, DC - -(AmmoLand.com)- The United States Senate on Friday unanimously approved Senate Resolution 374, recognizing the cooperative efforts of hunters, sportsmen’s associations, and other organizations to establish programs that provide game meat to feed the hungry across the United States.

Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Senators Blanche Lincoln, Tom Harkin, Saxby Chambliss and Debbie Stabenow introduced the resolution recognizing the efforts of hunters, sportsmen’s associations, meat processors, hunger relief organizations, and state agencies that make the program such a success.

“As the number of hungry people continues to rise, the Hunters Feeding the Hungry program is helping bring food to those most in need and is a wonderful example of neighbors helping neighbors, said Lincoln. “After my family’s recent deer hunting trip, my sons were able to donate their own game and experience the joy of giving.”

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a similar resolution, H.RES.270, offered by CSC Member Rep. Phil Gingrey, along with 43 co-sponsors, earlier this year.

House Resolution 270

Senate Resolution 374

About:
We can have the best wildlife habitat imaginable and a record number of people who buy fishing and hunting licenses, but it won’t matter if misguided laws and regulations are made at the federal and state levels that negatively impact our outdoor traditions. Keeping sportsmen’s issues front and center is what the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation does. Day in and day out, our sole focus is on providing a voice for sportsmen in the political arena. Serving as the first line of defense in protecting America’s outdoor traditions as well as promoting the sportsmen’s agenda through the collective muscle of sportsmen’s caucuses

Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation

Washington, DC --(AmmoLand.com)- Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Caucus Vice-Chair Sen. Jon Tester, along with CSC House Vice-Chair Rep. Mike Ross, and Rep. Mark Souder, joined together with 58 Senators and 251 House members in filing a bipartisan, bicameral amicus curiae brief asking the Supreme Court to hold the Second Amendment applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment in the case McDonald v. City of Chicago.

“The Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus really stepped up to the plate in further protecting our Second Amendment rights by working across party lines in filing this landmark brief,” said Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation President Jeff Crane.

The McDonald v. City of Chicago case will decide whether the Second Amendment is a fundamental individual right that applies to states in the same way the Supreme Court found that it applied to the Federal government in last year’s District of Columbia v. Heller decision.

“Working together, we’re making our gun rights in this country stronger,” said Sen. Tester. “This isn’t about partisan politics. It’s about the rights all law-abiding Americans have under our Constitution, and those rights are always worth fighting for.”

CSC Senate Co-Chairs, Sen. Ben Nelson and Sen. Mike Crapo, and CSC House Co-Chairs Rep. Dan Boren and Rep. Paul Ryan led an effort to urge fellow members of the Congressional Sportsman’s Caucus to sign on to the brief.

“As an avid hunter, I believe the government has a limited role in regulating the ownership of guns,” said Nelson.

Last year, members of the Caucus joined in the filing a similar amicus brief in the District of Columbia v. Heller case in support of the Court upholding the Second Amendment as a fundamental, individual right.

“Banning guns will not keep guns out of the hands of criminals, but it will keep guns out of the hands of those trying to defend themselves against criminals,” said Rep. Ross. “The Supreme Court’s recent decision in District of Columbia v. Heller affirmed the right of D.C. residents to own and bear arms and I am optimistic these same rights will be extended to the law abiding citizens of Chicago and across the United States in McDonald v. the City of Chicago.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case in February 2010.

About:
We can have the best wildlife habitat imaginable and a record number of people who buy fishing and hunting licenses, but it won’t matter if misguided laws and regulations are made at the federal and state levels that negatively impact our outdoor traditions. Keeping sportsmen’s issues front and center is what the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation does. Day in and day out, our sole focus is on providing a voice for sportsmen in the political arena. Serving as the first line of defense in protecting America’s outdoor traditions as well as promoting the sportsmen’s agenda through the collective muscle of sportsmen’s caucuses. Visit: www.sportsmenslink.org