II
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2092
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 11, 2019
Mr. Risch (for himself, Mr. Jones, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Manchin, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. King, and Mr. Boozman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
A BILL
To amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to modernize the funding of wildlife conservation, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow’s Needs Act
.
Purpose
The first section of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669) is amended by adding at the end the following: One of the purposes of this Act is to provide financial and technical assistance to the States for the promotion of hunting and recreational shooting.
.
Definitions
Section 2 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669a) is amended—
by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (9) as paragraphs (4) through (11), respectively; and
by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
for the purposes of determining the number of paid hunting-license holders in a State, the term fiscal year means the fiscal year or license year of the State;
the term hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment means any activity or project to recruit or retain hunters and recreational shooters, including by—
outreach and communications as a means—
to improve communications with hunters, recreational shooters, and the general public with respect to hunting and recreational shooting opportunities;
to reduce barriers to participation in these activities;
to advance the adoption of sound hunting and recreational shooting practices;
to promote conservation and the responsible use of the wildlife resources of the United States; and
to further safety in hunting and recreational shooting;
providing education, mentoring, and field demonstrations;
enhancing access for hunting and recreational shooting, including through range construction; and
providing education to the public about the role of hunting and recreational shooting in funding wildlife conservation;
.
Apportionment of available amounts
Apportionment of certain taxes
The first subsection (c) of section 4 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669c) is amended—
by inserting Apportionment of revenues from pistols, revolvers, bows, and arrows.—
after the enumerator;
by striking One-half
and inserting the following:
In general
Subject to paragraph (2), ½
;
by striking : Provided, That
and inserting a period;
by striking each State shall be apportioned not more than 3 per centum and not less than 1 per centum of such revenues
and inserting the following:
Condition
The amount apportioned to each State under paragraph (1) shall be not greater than 3 percent and not less than 1 percent of the revenues described in that paragraph
;
in paragraph (2) (as so designated), by striking one-sixth of 1 per centum of such revenues
and inserting 1/6 of 1 percent of those revenues
;
by striking For the purpose
and inserting the following:
Population determination
For the purpose
; and
by adding at the end the following:
Use of funds
In addition to other uses authorized under this Act, amounts apportioned under this subsection may be used for hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment.
.
Technical correction
Section 4 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669c) is amended by redesignating the second subsection (c) and subsection (d) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively.
Expenditures for management of wildlife areas and resources
Section 8 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669g) is amended—
in subsection (a), in the third sentence, by striking and public relations
; and
in subsection (b)(1), by striking , as a part of such program
.
Firearm and bow hunter education and safety program grants
Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669h–1(a)(1)(A)) is amended—
in clause (iii), by striking and
at the end; and
by adding at the end the following:
the enhancement of hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment; and
.
Multistate conservation grant program
In general
Section 11 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669h–2) is amended—
in subsection (a)(1)—
by striking Not more than
and inserting the following:
In general
Not more than
; and
by adding at the end the following:
Availability for hunter and recreational shooter grants
Not more than $5,000,000 of the revenues covered into the fund from any tax imposed under section 4161(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for a fiscal year shall be available to the Secretary exclusively for making hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment grants that promote a national hunting and shooting sport recruitment program, including related communication and outreach activities.
;
in subsection (b)(3), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking International
;
in subsection (c)(2)(A)—
in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking International
; and
in clause (i), by inserting or to recreational shooting activities
after wildlife
; and
in subsection (d), by inserting or to recreational shooting activities
after wildlife
.
Study
Not later than 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, shall—
review and evaluate the effects of the funds made available under subparagraph (B) of section 11(a)(1) of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669h–2(a)(1)) on funds available for wildlife conservation; and
submit a report describing the results of the review and evaluation under paragraph (1) to—
the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate; and
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.