Ginny Visits With Local Rancher to Discuss Livestock Issues

Washington, D.C., Sep 1 -

As a proud member of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus in the House, I am a strong advocate for the hunting, fishing and conservation community.  Florida’s sportsmen make a tremendous economic contribution to our state.  They spent an astounding $4.6 billion in 2001 alone which supported over 87,000 jobs for Floridians and supplied the State with $2.2 billion in salaries and wages.  In fact, with 38 million American sportsmen generating hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes, my role facilitating federal legislation affecting the outdoors and monitoring how taxes are spent and re-invested back into the land and sporting activities is an important area of concern. 

There are many pieces of legislation before the 109th Congress that affect the great natural resources abundant in Florida and across the nation.  One such bill, the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program Act, also known as the “Open Fields” bill introduced by Rep. Earl Pomeroy, would provide federal funding to support voluntary, incentive-based walk-in access programs administered by state fish and wildlife agencies.  These state programs give private landowners a financial incentive for providing hunting and fishing access to their property while protecting them from liability and property damage.  It also encourages landowners to improve the fish and wildlife habitat on their property.  These programs are extremely popular with landowners and with sportsmen, but a lack of financial resources means that many states are unable to take advantage of the offers by private landowners to enroll in their access programs.

I have also worked with my colleagues to support and pass legislation that protects Florida’s beautiful outdoors and abundant wildlife resources.  I co-sponsored H. Res. 362, introduced by Rep. James Walsh, which recognizes the importance and contributions of sportsmen to American society.  The resolution highlighted the many economic benefits associated with outdoor sporting activities, and the importance of encouraging the recruitment of, and teaching the traditions of hunting, trapping, and fishing to, future sportsmen.

As you can see, Congress has been a strong supporter of your rights as sportsmen and outdoorsmen.  I will continue to promote issues important to hunters and fishermen in the U.S. House and will fight for your rights as sportsmen and women.  Should you ever have any questions or concerns about federal legislation affecting Floridians, please feel free to visit my website at http://brown-waite.house.gov.