Monday, February 4, 2019

Legislation Introduced to Modernize Conservation Funding

Contact Pete Muller at (803) 637-7698

Rep. Scott Introduces Legislation to Modernize Conservation Funding

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EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The National Wild Turkey Federation commends Congressman Austin Scott (R-GA) for reintroducing the Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow’s Needs Act, a bill that will help secure future funding for wildlife and habitat conservation.

Sponsored by Scott and co-sponsors Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX) and Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC), H.R. 877 authorizes a portion of Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937 funding – commonly referred to as the Pittman-Robertson Act – for state fish and wildlife agencies’ use in recruitment, retention and reactivation programming. The legislation also provides agencies more flexibility in funding for marketing programs to reach potential hunters and recreational shooters, as well as funding for educating the general public about where state level conservation funding comes from.

“We would like to express our appreciation to Representative Scott and co-sponsors Dingell, Veasey and Hudson for this important legislation and for their dedication to preserving our nation’s wildlife and wild spaces,” said Becky Humphries, NWTF CEO. “The increased ability to attract and retain new hunters and recreational shooters provided by this legislation ensures funding for conservation into the future.”

Before the bill can return to the House floor for voting, the House Committee on Natural Resources will review the legislation.

The NWTF will continue to work with Scott and other members of congress to move the bill toward approval. With the number of active hunters and recreational shooters on the decline, this legislation is crucial to our nation’s hunting heritage.

About the National Wild Turkey Federation
When the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in 1973, there were about 1.3 million wild turkeys in North America. After decades of work, that number hit a historic high of almost 7 million turkeys. To succeed, the NWTF stood behind science-based conservation and hunters’ rights. Today, the NWTF is focused on the future of hunting and conservation through its Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative – a charge that mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to conserve or enhance more than 4 million acres of essential wildlife habitat, recruit at least 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres for hunting. For more information, visit NWTF.org.