[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 57 (Thursday, April 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E589-E590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SPORTSMEN'S HERITAGE ACT OF 2012

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 17, 2012

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4089) to 
     protect and enhance opportunities for recreational hunting, 
     fishing and shooting:

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4089, the 
Sportsmen's Heritage Act. This bill is the latest attempt by House 
Republicans to use America's natural treasures for the benefit of a 
handful of private corporations who are eager to mine, drill and log.
  Protecting and increasing hunters' access to public lands has been a 
bipartisan issue for decades, and is something I support. As a result, 
America's hunters have incredible access to our Federal lands. Today, 
75 percent of all Federal lands are open to hunting and fishing. This 
includes approximately 67 percent of National Wildlife Refuge land and 
70 percent of all the land managed by the National Park Service. The 
Bureau of Land Management allows hunting on 95 percent of the acres it 
manages. In Minnesota, we are fortunate to have large areas of public 
land open to hunting, including the Superior National Forest.
  In the United States, hunting access on public lands is not a crisis 
requiring legislation; it is a success story that deserves to be 
celebrated. H.R. 4089 abandons and reverses this legacy. This bill 
changes Federal laws to prioritize development over conservation and 
put corporate interests ahead of hunters.
  H.R. 4089 reduces the decision-making power of Park Rangers and other 
local land managers by centralizing authority in Washington, thousands 
of miles away. These highly trained professionals must be allowed to do 
their jobs, keeping land open to the public while protecting areas from 
disasters such as forest fires.
  H.R. 4089 would encourage the destruction of millions of acres of 
wildlife habitat. Every hunter knows that less habitat leads to less 
wildlife, which means less hunting. It is obvious that the 
beneficiaries of H.R. 4089 would not be America's sportsmen and women 
but instead, the owners of large oil, gas and mining corporations.
  This legislation repeals important provisions in the Wilderness Act 
that would open millions of acres of public land to development. H.R. 
4089 allows the construction of new permanent road networks and 
authorizes permits for logging, mining and drilling in designated 
Wilderness areas.
  As a strong supporter of conservation on America's public lands and 
our country's proud hunting heritage, I urge my colleagues to stand up 
for hunters and oppose H.R. 4089.

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