[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 382 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 382

Affirming that the intent of Congress in passing the National Wildlife 
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 was to allow hunting and fishing 
    on public lands within the National Wildlife Refuge System and 
 declaring that the purpose of reserving certain lands as public lands 
      is to make them available to the public for reasonable uses.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 11, 2004

  Mr. Vitter submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
                 referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Affirming that the intent of Congress in passing the National Wildlife 
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 was to allow hunting and fishing 
    on public lands within the National Wildlife Refuge System and 
 declaring that the purpose of reserving certain lands as public lands 
      is to make them available to the public for reasonable uses.

Whereas hunting and fishing have a long and distinguished history in the United 
        States;
Whereas hunting and fishing remain an important part of the lifestyle and 
        culture of people from many different areas of the country and from all 
        walks of life;
Whereas sportsmen and women have worked for decades to ensure that public lands 
        and other lands which are used for hunting and fishing have been cared 
        for, protected, and preserved;
Whereas the lands that make up the National Wildlife Refuge System have been 
        widely used for hunting, fishing, and other sporting purposes;
Whereas in 1997 Congress passed the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement 
        Act of 1997, which clearly and directly stated that hunting and fishing, 
        as wildlife-dependent recreational activities, could be considered 
        compatible uses of public lands, including those lands within the 
        National Wildlife Refuge System; and
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 passed by a 
        vote of 419-1, demonstrating the nonpartisan nature of the legislation 
        and the tremendous amount of support it enjoyed: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That--
            (1) in passing the National Wildlife Refuge System 
        Improvement Act of 1997, Congress demonstrated its clear intent 
        to allow hunting and fishing on the public lands within the 
        National Wildlife Refuge System;
            (2) the intent of Congress has not changed in any way since 
        the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 was 
        enacted, and any assumptions to the contrary are misguided and 
        misinterpret the clear intent of Congress; and
            (3) the general purpose of reserving certain lands as 
        public lands, including the lands within the National Wildlife 
        Refuge System, is to make them available to the public for 
        reasonable uses, which include hunting, fishing, other 
        wildlife-dependent sports, and other outdoor purposes.
                                 <all>