[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 206 (Monday, December 18, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S8071]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DAINES (for himself and Mr. Bennet):
  S. 2243. A bill to amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to authorize 
funding for the voluntary public access and habitat incentive program; 
to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, as a fifth generation Montanan and avid 
outdoorsman, I know how important public use of our public lands is to 
Montanans. Many Montanans, including myself, have also had great 
experiences hunting, fishing, or hiking on approved private lands as 
well. Expanding access for sportsmen, improving habitat, and upholding 
property rights are all priorities of mine, which is why I am 
introducing the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act. This bill 
would reauthorize the Voluntary Public Access-Habitat Improvement 
Program, a voluntary state-led program that expands public access by 
incentivizing private landowners to allow the public on their property 
for hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreational activities while 
protecting their private property rights. In Montana alone, over 70,000 
acres of private lands have been voluntarily opened up for hunting and 
increased public access, and the Voluntary Public Access Improvement 
Act would help build on that success.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2243

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Voluntary Public Access 
     Improvement Act of 2017''.

     SEC. 2. VOLUNTARY PUBLIC ACCESS AND HABITAT INCENTIVE 
                   PROGRAM.

       Section 1240R(f)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
     U.S.C. 3839bb-5(f)(1)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``practicable, $50,000,000'' and inserting 
     the following: ``practicable--
       ``(A) $50,000,000'';
       (2) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), by striking 
     ``2012 and $40,000,000'' and inserting the following: ``2012;
       ``(B) $40,000,000''; and
       (3) in subparagraph (B) (as so designated), by striking the 
     period at the end and inserting the following: ``; and
       ``(C) $150,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2019 
     through 2023.''.
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