[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 69 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1014-E1015]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SPORTSMEN'S BILL OF RIGHTS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 1997

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the 
sportsmen's bill of rights. When this bill becomes law, it will 
encourage Federal land managing agencies to allow hunting and fishing 
on the lands they manage. It requires these agencies to take into 
consideration the impact that their policies and management practices 
will have on hunting and fishing. Another important feature of this 
bill clarifies that State government holds the primary management 
authority over wildlife resources unless the Federal managing agency 
can show specific statutory authority that requires otherwise.
  This legislation is needed to ensure that Americans who enjoy the 
outdoors can utilize our public lands. There have been too many 
instances where Federal agencies have closed lands to hunting and 
fishing with little to

[[Page E1015]]

no explanation to the sportsmen's community. The sportsmen's bill of 
rights will help keep these lands open as long as sportsman's use does 
not interfere with the primary use of the land.
  This bill is very important to the people of the State of Alaska. The 
Federal Government controls over 242 million acres in our State, which 
makes up 66 percent of Alaska's total land area. To put it into 
perspective, the Federal lands in Alaska add up to over twice the total 
area of the entire State of California. This bill helps the Federal 
agencies keep these public lands open to use of our sportsmen and I 
urge its swift passage.

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