[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 64 (Thursday, May 15, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4599-S4600]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SHELBY (for himself, Mr. Murkowski, Mr. Craig, and Mr. 
        Burns):
  S. 751. A bill to protect and enhance sportsmen's opportunities and 
conservation of wildlife, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works.


                 Sportsmen's Bill of Rights Act of 1997

  Mr. SHELBY. Mr President, today, I am pleased to join my colleagues 
and fellow Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus cochairs Senators Burns, 
Craig and Murkowski in introducing the Sportsmen' Bill of Rights Act of 
1997.
  Hunting and fishing are traditions that have been an integral part of 
our history since the inception of our Nation and are among the most 
basic of our heritage. Through the ages, sportsmen have shown a deep 
respect and appreciation for the land and have made a concerted effort 
to wisely use our Nation's renewable natural resources. All across this 
country, very successful alliances have been formed between hunting and 
fishing enthusiasts and conservationists. Both are very concerned about 
protecting natural habitats, and when working together their force 
includes some 70 percent of the U.S. population.
  Today, millions of Americans participate in these venerable pastimes. 
Over 60 million Americans enthusiastically participate in fishing 
activities and 14 million citizens are licensed hunters. These 
recreational activities are a significant boost to many local and State 
economies, as well as the Nation. Sportsmen spent more than $67.9 
billion last year on goods and services

[[Page S4600]]

supporting an industry that employs more than a million people across 
the country. When discussing the contributions sportsmen have made to 
our Nation, often overlooked is the fact that sportsmen have carried 
the burden of financing fish and wildlife management and preservation 
through the years.
  America owes our sportsmen a debt of gratitude for their pioneering 
achievements on behalf of wildlife and habitat conservation. The 
Sportsmen's Bill of Rights recognizes the important role fishing and 
hunting play in our society by providing anglers and hunters with 
explicit access to public lands; opening the process of wildlife 
management and protecting the integrity of the sportsmen's trust funds. 
This bill ensures that hunting and fishing opportunities are considered 
in Federal land management decisions, and provides a clear procedure 
for Federal agencies to follow in their management of our Federal 
public lands.
  For too long, sportsmen have been unduly penalized from equitably 
sharing public land. This bill mandates that Federal agencies analyze 
the effects of potential hunting and fishing limitations prior to 
enacting new land use policies. Hunters and anglers should be granted 
the right to intervene in any civil action where law would limit the 
use of land for hunting and fishing. The provisions in the sportsmen's 
bill of rights assure that Federal agencies support, encourage and 
enhance the opportunities for fishing and hunting.
  While this bill promotes access to public lands, it recognizes the 
need for exceptions and exclusions due to national security concerns, 
public safety matters, emergency situations and policy reasons that are 
incompatible with hunting or fishing. This act cannot be used to force 
the opening of National Parks or monuments administered by the National 
Park Service to fishing or hunting and this legislation is not intended 
to place fishing and hunting above other land management priorities. 
The sportsmen's bill of rights is aimed at setting forth tangible 
management guidelines.
  Additionally, this year marks the 60th anniversary of one of our 
Nation's most successful Federal restoration programs, the Pittman 
Robertson Act. P-R, as it is often referred to, is a partnership 
created by the State fish and wildlife agencies and the funds provided 
by the anglers and hunters. Sportsman across the land have sponsored, 
supported and maintained the integrity of P-R throughout the last 60 
years. The funds are raised through an excise tax on sportsman's goods 
and subsequently, placed in a fund to be allocated to the States yearly 
in accordance with statutory formulas. Today $357 million is raised for 
wildlife restoration through P-R funds in conjunction with the Dingell-
Johnson Act and the Wallop-Breaux Act.

  Due to the congenial partnership of our Nation's hunters and anglers 
with Federal-State agencies, America's wildlife is thriving. For every 
taxpayer dollar invested in wildlife conservation, sportsmen and women 
contribute $9 dollars. At the turn of the century, only 41,000 elk were 
counted across our Nation. While the Nation's population soared and 
massive development occurred, sportsmen's conservation initiatives have 
enable the elk population in just 10 western States to increase to 
approximately 810,000. Similar stories can be applied to numerous 
species including the white-tailed deer, the Canada goose, and the wild 
turkey. Hunters and anglers have been and will continue to be the 
champions of wildlife and habitat conservation. These examples just 
begin to demonstrate the value of anglers and hunters to our society.
  The sportsmen's bill of rights will protect and enhance sportsmen's 
opportunities and enhance the conservation of wildlife. I urge my 
colleagues to join me by cosponsoring this important legislation.
                                 ______