Don't Feed the Bears Act of 2003

Mr Speaker, I have, somewhat famously, opposed H.R. 1472, a bill which attempts to single out bears as a species to be managed by the House of Representatives instead of local wildlife experts. I believe this bill is a ``one size fits all'' attempt at government, inappropriately taking local control away and nullifying local expertise. I am not alone on my position against this bill. I would therefore like to submit for the Record the following letter from the National Rifle Association, which explains their opposition to the bill as well.

June 2003.

Dear Representative: As the leading voice for millions of

American gun-owners and hunters, the National Rifle

Association wishes to advise you of our opposition to H.R.

1472, the ``Don't Feed the Bears Act of 2003.'' This

legislation would prohibit the use of bait in bear hunting on

all federal lands.

Although H.R. 1472 addresses one method of bear hunting,

the real issue here is about who manages resident wildlife.

H.R. 1472 opens the door to federal preemption of the rights

of the fifty states to manage resident wildlife, including

establishing the means and methods of hunting in a safe and

ethical manner. The NRA is unalterably opposed to such

federal infringement.

Congress has passed legislation giving the Federal

government management authority over certain categories of

wildlife which it felt required a national focus: migratory

birds, marine mammals, and endangered and threatened species.

At no time in its history has Congress selected an individual

species for federal management. H.R. 1472 sets this unwise

precedent.

This legislation is being advocated by organizations

opposed to all methods of hunting, not just the use of bait

in bear hunting.

Nothing could better achieve their goal of ending hunting in

the United States than a bill that federalizes wildlife

management. Rather than having to promote their views in each

of the fifty states, the anti-hunting community is seeking to

have Congress preempt the field.

Those states that allow the use of bait in hunting do so

because they have concluded that it is a humane method of

hunting, that it meets the ethical standard of ``fair

chase,'' and that it is a necessary tool for management of

their bear populations. H.R. 1472 places Congress in the

position of being a wildlife biologist, making decisions for

states on how certain wildlife populations must be managed.

If Congress were to adopt this legislation, it would be

placing itself in the position of having to address every

issue pertaining to wildlife management, not just one method

of bear hunting.

The NRA strongly urges you to oppose H.R. 1472 because of

its attempt to preempt the authority of the states to manage

resident wildlife. If you are a cosponsor of the bill, we

urge that you reconsider your support for it.

Thank you for your consideration of our views on this

important issue.

Sincerely,

Chris W. Cox,

Executive Director,

NRA Institute for Legislative Action.

Mr. Chairman, on Thursday, July 17, 2003, during rollcall 382 I mistakenly voted against House Amendment 263 to H.R. 2691, the FY 2004 Interior Department Appropriations Bill. The amendment, sponsored by Mr. Gallegly of California and Mr. Moran of Virginia, sought to restrict the use of funds by the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management to administer any action related to the baiting of bears except to prevent or prohibit such activity. As a cosponsor of H.R. 1472, the ``Don't Feed the Bears Act of 2003'', I certainly support ending the practice of bear baiting and will work vigorously for the passage of this legislation during this session of Congress.

I sincerely regret this error as I intended to have voted in favor of the Gallegly-Moran Amendment. Accordingly, I respectfully request that this statement of correction be printed in the Record.

Mr. Chairman, on Thursday, July 17, 2003, during rollcall 382 I mistakenly voted against House Amendment 263 to H.R. 2691, the FY 2004 Interior Department Appropriations Bill. The amendment, sponsored by Mr. Gallegly of California and Mr. Moran of Virginia, sought to restrict the use of funds by the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management to administer any action related to the baiting of bears except to prevent or prohibit such activity. As a cosponsor of H.R. 1472, the ``Don't Feed the Bears Act of 2003'', I certainly support ending the practice of bear baiting and will work vigorously for the passage of this legislation during this session of Congress.

I sincerely regret this error as I intended to have voted in favor of the Gallegly-Moran amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask that the Record show that on Thursday, July 17, 2003, during consideration of the FY04 Appropriations bill for the Department of the Interior, I inadvertently voted ``no'' on the Gallegly-Moran ``Don't Feed the Bears'' Amendment, to stop the dangerous and unsporting practice of bear-baiting on federal lands, when it was my intention to support the amendment.

This amendment, had it passed, would have banned the unsporting practice of using food to attract bears for slaughter on federal lands. I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1472 because of my strong opposition to the practice of bear-baiting. I will continue to actively support enactment of H.R. 1472.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 1472.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from California?