Washington D.C. – (Ammoland.com)- This morning the House Committee on Natural Resources passed by unanimous consent the “Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow’s Needs Act of 2018,” HR 2591.
Without increasing taxes or existing user fees, this bill will ensure user-pay funding of wildlife conservation for future generations, clarifies that a purpose of the Pittman-Robertson fund is to extend assistance to the states for outreach, communication and education of hunters and recreational target shooters, and allow states the ability to communicate with and recruit, retain and reactivate outdoor recreationists through modern means of communication.
“We find that our constituents have certain expectations of their state fish and wildlife agencies, specifically the ability to utilize more effective means of communications today. This bill will allow us the opportunity to meet those expectations while allowing us to continue to meet our wildlife conservation objectives and ensuring that funding for wildlife conservation will keep pace with the demands of our citizens and communities,” said Virgil Moore, President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Association).
“We thank Mr. Austin Scott (GA) the bill sponsor, Chairman Bishop and members of the House Committee on Natural Resources, and members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus for their continued support of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Fund and for helping to modernize this cornerstone law of wildlife conservation which has served our nation exceptionally well since 1937,” said Ron Regan, Executive Director for the Association.
The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science-based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration to advance favorable fish and wildlife conservation policy and funding and works to ensure that all entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides member agencies with coordination services on cross-cutting as well as species-based programs that range from birds, fish habitat and energy development to climate change, wildlife action plans, conservation education, leadership training and international relations. Working together, the Association’s member agencies are ensuring that North American fish and wildlife management has a clear and collective voice.
Well it looks like my comments have come across wrong. I am all in favor of the Pittman Robertson act. It has done much to save wildlife and conservation efforts. A lot of my monies have gone that way.
I was simply suggesting maybe some others who use the outdoors also pitch in.
If what I’ve been reading in the outdoor magazine is correct hunting licenses numbers are declining and I assumed that means less money going to the cause.
Pittman-Robertson, unConstitutional since 1937. Still unConstitutional in 2018.
@Fiona Westen, Why do you hate animals so much? Many North American species were on the verge of extinction. Are you on the side of extinction? Perhaps you should challenge the Pittman-Robertson Act in federal court. You could start a “Go Fund Me” and I could send you a penny.
Modern sport Hunting has never caused a species to go extinct. Right now, in many states they Game Commissions are having to kill off as many of the deer heard as possible to prevent the spread pf CWD Chronic Wasting Disease. This happened through private individuals raising them in overcrowded pens.
Hunting didn’t cause this greed and hording of uneducated people did.
Maybe you should be educated on the subject before you take a stance!!!!!!
The Pittman-Robertson Act also funds some of the cost for PAs. Hunter Trapper Education program.This is a program that most people don’t know about. We always tell the students in the classes that this program exists. Have been doing it for 35 years now. (This is good information that needs to be known by all that buy Guns and Ammunition Parts and services)
This just happens to be an outstanding program which fosters the development of student interest in the undergraduate and graduate wildlife biology research programs in universities all across the nation.
Sportsman have always stepped up to help conservation. Don’t sportsman pay a hidden 11% tax? But why do other users of the outdoors get a tax pass? I mean the folks that backpack, camp and hike that same areas? Let alone those that drive ATV’s in wildlife areas.
Everyone enjoys the same outdoor freedoms and with the number of hunters declining this would help conservation efforts.
@Big Mark, maybe there are some that enjoy the outdoors that have no intention of paying their way. There are certain groups in our society that think everything should be free. Hunters took the unusual step of requesting to pay that extra eleven per cent tax (the Pittman-Robertson Act) on guns, ammunition, and later even archery, all for the benefit of the wild animals.