Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow's Needs Act

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2591, Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow's Needs Act.

As a lifelong outdoorsman and current vice chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, I am honored to be here today to discuss this bipartisan legislation.

If enacted, H.R. 2591 would provide national, broad-based support to State fish and wildlife agencies to develop, guide, and enhance collective efforts to recruit new hunters and sportsmen, all while continuing to protect our Nation's natural resources.

Through a system of user pay, public benefits, Pittman-Robertson is the foundation of wildlife conservation funding in the United States.

In the early 1900s, many wildlife species were beginning to dwindle and disappear. To address this decline, State fish and wildlife agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service partnered with hunters and conservationists to help draft and enact the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act. Known today as the Pittman-Robertson Act, this legislation became law in 1937.

Since it was first enacted, the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Fund has collected over $11 billion from sportsmen and - women to be used by States to fund wildlife conservation efforts, habitat acquisition and management, public access to lands, hunter education, and development of ranges affiliated with hunter safety programs. These funds are collected from an excise tax on sporting equipment, which is coupled with State funds from the sale of sporting licenses.

Over the past century, States have spent these funds to restore game and nongame species that were on the brink of endangerment and extinction. Specifically, Pittman-Robertson funds have helped rebuild white-tailed deer, turkey, duck, beaver, elk, osprey, and bald eagle populations. Effectively, Pittman-Robertson creates a direct link between those who hunt and participate in sportsmen activities and the health of the resources needed to expand and enhance those opportunities.

However, in recent years, the increasing urbanization and suburbanization of our population has made it more difficult for the public to participate in hunting and outdoor recreational activities.

Correspondingly, the average age of Americans purchasing hunting licenses and equipment is steadily rising as younger Americans are not joining the sportsmen population.

This has a significant ripple effect, not only on the key Federal funding models that support the conservation of fish and wildlife, but also on the base of support for our public lands and on thoughtful natural resource policy.

H.R. 2591 seeks to address this growing issue head-on.

Without any Federal mandate or any increase in existing user fees or taxes, H.R. 2591 will preserve the current user-pay, public-benefit funding of wildlife conservation for generations to come, while further expanding flexibility of States to make decisions that are best fit for them and the preservation of their natural resources.

Specifically, H.R. 2591 would clarify that a purpose of the Pittman- Robertson funds is to extend public relations assistance to the States for the promotion of hunting and sportsmen activities.

For the first time, State fish and wildlife agencies could use Pittman-Robertson funds for proactive recruitment, including promotions on television, in printed publications, and on social media; educational field demonstrations to better teach the role that hunting plays in wildlife conservation; as well as initiatives aimed at enhancing access for hunting and range construction.

These modernizations are essential in addressing the issues currently affecting Pittman-Robertson funds.

To ensure that traditional wildlife conservation remains the primary focus of Pittman-Robertson, H.R. 2591 puts a maximum cap of 25 percent on the percentage of Pittman-Robertson funds that can be used for public relations by a State agency.

Moreover, H.R. 2591 would expand the Multistate Conservation Grant Program by providing an additional $5 million per year from archery tax collections to provide for hunters and recreational recruitment project grants that promote a national recruitment program.

While this legislation provides the authority for the existing Pittman-Robertson funds to be used on programs that will help ensure participation in outdoor recreational sportsmen activities and secure a funding base long into the future, it is important to note that H.R. 2591 does not mandate how PR funds must be spent.

The discretion to determine the amount, if any, of Wildlife Restoration Funds spent on recruitment would remain entirely with each individual State fish and wildlife agency.

Conservation organizations and State wildlife agencies alike have long advocated for increased flexibility for Pittman-Robertson funds.

H.R. 2591 is supported by all 50 State fish and wildlife agencies as well as a significant number of the Nation's leading sportsmen conservation groups--just to list a few: the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Archery Trade Association, the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, Conservation Force, Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports, Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited, Izaak Walton League, Mule Deer Foundation, Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Sportsmen's Alliance, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Council, Wildlife Forever, the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council, and the Wildlife Management Institute.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2591) to amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to modernize the funding of wildlife conservation, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 2591, introduced by Representative Austin Scott of Georgia, is a bipartisan bill which I cosponsored that amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to modernize the funding for wildlife conservation.

The Pittman-Robertson fund, which relies on excise tax fees paid by hunters and recreational shooters, has been a driving force for wildlife habitat preservation in the United States for nearly 80 years, contributing over $10 billion in that time. The fund is also responsible for important hunter education programs, as well as the construction and maintenance of public shooting ranges.

The long-term viability of the Pittman-Robertson fund is at risk, however, because of the diminishing number of hunters and recreational shooters nationwide. Recent surveys have shown a decline of over 2 million hunters since 2011. This has largely been caused by growing urbanization and suburbanization, which has made it more difficult for Americans to participate in these activities.

This legislation will give States additional flexibility to use their Pittman-Robertson dollars to fund programs to recruit, retain, and reactivate hunters and target shooters. Empowering the States with this added flexibility will help promote safe and responsible hunting and shooting, while also ensuring this American system of wildlife conservation funding remains strong into the future.

Congressman Scott should be commended for his work on this bipartisan measure. I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott).

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this bill provides States with increased flexibility to utilize

money provided by the Pittman-Robertson fund for expanding outreach in hunter education initiatives.

The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, commonly known as the Pittman-Robertson Act, authorizes an excise tax on hunting equipment. The proceeds are used to support wildlife conservation and restoration efforts.

Allowing some of the money for education and outreach initiatives has the potential to increase participation in hunting and other recreational activities that will expand the tax base and the total pool of available money.

This program is our Nation's oldest and most successful wildlife conservation initiative. In its over-80-year history, it has restored habitat relied on by numerous species and even helped to bring some populations back from the brink of extinction. This is an impressive track record that the update included in this legislation is meant to support.

The bill includes a 25 percent cap for education and recruitment activities, a safeguard meant to ensure there is still plenty of money available for wildlife conservation and restoration.

I look forward to working with our colleagues in the Senate to ensure that 25 percent is an appropriate safeguard that doesn't steer too much money away from the traditional purpose of the fund.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.