[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 69 (Monday, April 29, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H3288-H3290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TARGET PRACTICE AND MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING SUPPORT ACT

  Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1222) to amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration 
Act to facilitate the establishment of additional or expanded public 
target ranges in certain States.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1222

       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 ``Target Practice and 
     Marksmanship Training Support Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the use of firearms and archery equipment for target 
     practice and marksmanship training activities on Federal land 
     is allowed, except to the extent specific portions of that 
     land have been closed to those activities;
       (2) in recent years preceding the date of enactment of this 
     Act, portions of Federal land have been closed to target 
     practice and marksmanship training for many reasons;
       (3) the availability of public target ranges on non-Federal 
     land has been declining for a variety of reasons, including 
     continued population growth and development near former 
     ranges;
       (4) providing opportunities for target practice and 
     marksmanship training at public target ranges on Federal and 
     non-Federal land can help--
       (A) to promote enjoyment of shooting, recreational, and 
     hunting activities; and
       (B) to ensure safe and convenient locations for those 
     activities;
       (5) Federal law in effect on the date of enactment of this 
     Act, including the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act 
     (16 U.S.C. 669 et seq.), provides Federal support for 
     construction and expansion of public target ranges by making 
     available to States amounts that may be used for 
     construction, operation, and maintenance of public target 
     ranges; and
       (6) it is in the public interest to provide increased 
     Federal support to facilitate the construction or expansion 
     of public target ranges.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to facilitate the 
     construction and expansion of public target ranges, including 
     ranges on Federal land managed by the Forest Service and the 
     Bureau of Land Management.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF PUBLIC TARGET RANGE.

       In this Act, the term ``public target range'' means a 
     specific location that--
       (1) is identified by a governmental agency for recreational 
     shooting;
       (2) is open to the public;
       (3) may be supervised; and
       (4) may accommodate archery or rifle, pistol, or shotgun 
     shooting.

     SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO PITTMAN-ROBERTSON WILDLIFE RESTORATION 
                   ACT.

       (a) Definitions.--Section 2 of the Pittman-Robertson 
     Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669a) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (8) as 
     paragraphs (3) through (9), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
       ``(2) the term `public target range' means a specific 
     location that--
       ``(A) is identified by a governmental agency for 
     recreational shooting;
       ``(B) is open to the public;
       ``(C) may be supervised; and
       ``(D) may accommodate archery or rifle, pistol, or shotgun 
     shooting;''.
       (b) Expenditures for Management of Wildlife Areas and 
     Resources.--Section

[[Page H3289]]

     8(b) of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 
     U.S.C. 669g(b)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``(b) Each State'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(b) Expenditures for Management of Wildlife Areas and 
     Resources.--
       ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
     each State'';
       (2) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by striking 
     ``construction, operation,'' and inserting ``operation'';
       (3) in the second sentence, by striking ``The non-Federal 
     share'' and inserting the following:
       ``(3) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share'';
       (4) in the third sentence, by striking ``The Secretary'' 
     and inserting the following:
       ``(4) Regulations.--The Secretary''; and
       (5) by inserting after paragraph (1) (as designated by 
     paragraph (1) of this subsection) the following:
       ``(2) Exception.--Notwithstanding the limitation described 
     in paragraph (1), a State may pay up to 90 percent of the 
     cost of acquiring land for, expanding, or constructing a 
     public target range.''.
       (c) Firearm and Bow Hunter Education and Safety Program 
     Grants.--Section 10 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife 
     Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669h-1) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) Allocation of additional amounts.--Of the amount 
     apportioned to a State for any fiscal year under section 
     4(b), the State may elect to allocate not more than 10 
     percent, to be combined with the amount apportioned to the 
     State under paragraph (1) for that fiscal year, for acquiring 
     land for, expanding, or constructing a public target 
     range.'';
       (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
       ``(b) Cost Sharing.--
       ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
     Federal share of the cost of any activity carried out using a 
     grant under this section shall not exceed 75 percent of the 
     total cost of the activity.
       ``(2) Public target range construction or expansion.--The 
     Federal share of the cost of acquiring land for, expanding, 
     or constructing a public target range in a State on Federal 
     or non-Federal land pursuant to this section or section 8(b) 
     shall not exceed 90 percent of the cost of the activity.''; 
     and
       (3) in subsection (c)(1)--
       (A) by striking ``Amounts made'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     amounts made''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) Exception.--Amounts provided for acquiring land for, 
     constructing, or expanding a public target range shall remain 
     available for expenditure and obligation during the 5-fiscal-
     year period beginning on October 1 of the first fiscal year 
     for which the amounts are made available.''.

     SEC. 5. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING COOPERATION.

       It is the sense of Congress that, consistent with 
     applicable laws and regulations, the Chief of the Forest 
     Service and the Director of the Bureau of Land Management 
     should cooperate with State and local authorities and other 
     entities to carry out waste removal and other activities on 
     any Federal land used as a public target range to encourage 
     continued use of that land for target practice or 
     marksmanship training.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Van Drew) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support 
Act amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to authorize 
a State to pay up to 90 percent of the costs of acquiring land for 
constructing a public target range. Under the current law, the State is 
authorized to pay up to only 75 percent of the cost.
  This bill also allows the State to allocate 10 percent of its Federal 
wildlife restoration funding to building public target ranges.
  This bill was part of the negotiated historic lands package that was 
signed into law in March of this year, but this specific section had to 
be pulled from the final package because language in the bill is 
required to originate in the House.
  I would like to commend Congressman Kind for his continued support of 
sportsmen and sportswomen and his work to send this last piece of the 
negotiated package to the Senate.
  This is, again, a good opportunity to celebrate the rightfully named 
lands package, the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and 
Recreation Act, which was a product of many months of negotiations and 
many years of committee process.
  The lands package benefits all Americans by protecting ecosystems, 
preserving our cultural heritage, and connecting people to their lands. 
By protecting ecosystems, preserving our cultural heritage, and 
connecting people to their lands, we demonstrate this Congress' 
commitment to public lands that serve all Americans.
  Not only did the package permanently authorize the Land and Water 
Conservation Fund, but it also added over 1 million acres of 
wilderness, designated four new national monuments, and expanded three 
national parks, just to name a few of the over 100 provisions. H.R. 
1222 is simply the last to get over the finish line, and I am proud to 
support it.
  I urge my colleagues to continue to support the lands package and 
support this bipartisan bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                                     Conress of the United States,


      House of Representatives,   Committee on Ways and Means,

                                   Washington, DC, April 29, 2019.
     Hon. Raul M. Grijalva,
     Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Grijalva: I am writing with respect to H.R. 
     1222, ``Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support 
     Act.'' As a result of your having consulted with us on 
     provisions on which the Committee on Ways and Means has 
     jurisdictional interest, I will not request sequential 
     referral on this measure.
       The Committee on Ways and Means takes this action with the 
     mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction 
     over the subject matter contained in this or similar 
     legislation, and the Committee will be appropriately 
     consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation 
     moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues 
     within our jurisdiction. The Committee also reserves the 
     right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of 
     conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or 
     similar legislation, and request your support for such a 
     request.
       Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter 
     confirming this understanding, and would ask that a copy of 
     our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of H.R. 1222.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Richard E. Neal,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Natural Resources,

                                   Washington, DC, April 29, 2019.
     Hon. Richard E. Neal,
     Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for consulting with the 
     Natural Resources Committee on H.R. 1222, ``Target Practice 
     and Marksmanship Training Support Act'' and agreeing to forgo 
     a sequential referral request so that the bill may proceed 
     expeditiously to the House floor.
       I agree that your declining to pursue a referral in this 
     case does not diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on Ways and Means nor prejudice its jurisdictional 
     prerogatives on this bill or similar legislation in the 
     future. I would support your effort to seek appointment of an 
     appropriate number of conferees from your Committee over any 
     parts of this bill or similar legislation under the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means to any House-
     Senate conference.
       I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in 
     the Congressional Record during floor consideration of bill. 
     I appreciate your cooperation regarding this bill and look 
     forward to continuing to work with you as this measure moves 
     through the legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Raul M. Grijalva,
                                                      Chairman,   
                                House Natural Resources Committee.

  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I am here to support H.R. 1222, and I am very pleased that 
Congressman Kind and Congressman Hunter were able to introduce this and 
for their part in this particular statement.
  As was said by the gentleman from New Jersey, this has been before 
this House before. We have passed it in committee before and in the 
House before, and it was part of the original package, the land package 
that went through earlier this year.
  Unfortunately, because of a technicality in the slowdown that we had 
in having to reintroduce the bill as a Senate bill, this must come 
through as a House bill.

[[Page H3290]]

  However, I am pleased to report that all the concerns people had have 
been resolved at this point. The Senate has already deemed this bill to 
have passed once the House acts on it. So, with our passage today, I 
think this bill is going fast into becoming an actual piece of 
legislation.
  I want to thank Representative Grijalva and his staff. Mr. Grijalva 
is not here today. The gentleman from New Jersey is in his place, and a 
much better dresser, I might add, and I thank him. I thank them for 
their efforts to continue on with this program that was part of the 
original package. We had hiccups that we had to solve in some 
particular way, so Mr. Grijalva and his staff worked very hard on this 
particular piece of legislation.
  This is something that has been long sought by the sports community. 
The Pittman-Robertson fund, which is a great fund that relies on excise 
taxes paid on purchases that are made by hunters and fishers and 
recreational shooters, that goes into this fund, which has been around 
for almost 80 years and has already contributed about $10 billion.
  It has been important to start hunter education programs. It has been 
important also for the construction and the maintenance of our public 
shooting ranges. The long-term viability is significant.
  As this Nation becomes more urbanized, the ability of people having a 
safe place where they can go, and they can do practice, target 
practice, it becomes even more significant that these ranges have to be 
maintained. These ranges have to be improved in some particular way.
  What this bill does is the perfect solution. It takes this fund of 
money, but then allows the States to have greater flexibility of how it 
is going to be administered. By allowing them to even match with just 
10 percent, it gives the States the ability to move forward and to use 
the Pittman-Robertson fund for 5 years to fund shooting ranges and 
expand existing shooting ranges.
  It empowers States--that is what we should be doing more--but it 
empowers States that will actually now encourage responsible hunting, 
responsible recreational shooting, as well as ensuring the wildlife 
conservation system, which is, once again, a responsibility of States.
  What we are doing here is, I think, taking the right approach with a 
fund that already exists, giving States flexibility, and encouraging 
the sporting community. That is why the sportsmen of our country have 
long sought for this particular provision. They look at this as a major 
and important win.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this measure, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Van Drew) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1222.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________