Washington, DC – Yesterday, Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand, a Member of the Agriculture Committee, voted in support of an amendment to H.R. 2016, the National Landscape Conservation System Act, to protect hunting and fishing on federal public lands.

“The best conservationists in America are hunters and fishermen, but too often, these great stewards of the land are prohibited from participating in their sport on federal lands,” said Congresswoman Gillibrand.  “Therefore, I am pleased to be able to vote for an amendment that ensures that the rights of hunters and fishermen are protected on federal conservation lands.”

In addition to supporting this amendment, Congresswoman Gillibrand was also the sponsor of an amendment to the 2007 Farm Bill to create more public hunting and fishing lands for local communities.  Her amendment called for grants to be awarded to local towns that wanted to buy and manage new public recreation lands in order to provide more space for residents to hunt and fish.  This program, called the Community Forest and Open Space Program, is expected to be included in the final version of the Farm Bill which is scheduled for completion by April 18, 2008. 

“Hunting not only played an important role in my family growing up, but it is important to many of my Upstate constituents and I want to do all I can to provide them with land to enjoy their sport as well and protect their individual right to keep and bear arms,” said Congresswoman Gillibrand.