Washington, DC – Safari Club International (SCI) thanks the 28 members of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources for their bipartisan vote to pass H.R. 1825, the Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act of 2013, today. Further, SCI commends Congressman Dan Benishek (MI) for his leadership to advance H.R. 1825. SCI respectfully requests that this important legislation be brought to the House of Representatives for a floor vote soon.
The Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act of 2013 will recognize the rightful place of recreational hunting, fishing, and shooting on federal lands and protect those opportunities from being closed to the public without justification. Millions of Americans, including thousands of SCI Members, hunt and shoot on our nation’s public lands. By passing this legislation out of committee and to the House floor, the committee has helped to protect our hunting heritage for future generations.
“Public lands are essential to American sportsmen and women as a means of access to available land,” said SCI President Craig Kauffman. “H.R. 1825 protects the opportunity to hunt on those lands. It is essential that the House advance H.R. 1825 with a vote, so that the U.S. Senate can adopt this legislation, necesary to preserve the sporting heritage of Americans for years to come.”
The U.S. House of Representatives passed similar legislation in the 112th Congress and Safari Club International remains hopeful to have the current bill move quickly to a floor vote for passage. Hunters all across America are encouraged to contact their lawmakers and ask them to protect American’s sporting heritage for future generations by supporting H.R. 1825.
MEDIA CONTACT: Nelson Freeman; Nfreeman@safariclub.org
Safari Club International – First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI’s approximately 200 Chapters represent all 50 of the United States as well as 106 other countries. SCI’s proactive leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation. Visit the home page www.safariclub.org or call (520) 620-1220 for more information.