Sen. Franken Disappointed that Bill to Protect Minnesota’s Outdoor Heritage Blocked
Says He will Continue to Support Bipartisan Efforts to Revive the Measure and Make it Law
U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) said today that he's disappointed that legislation to protect Minnesota's outdoor heritage was blocked in the Senate Monday evening.
Sen. Franken, a member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, supported the bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2012, which would have expanded access to hunting and fishing on public lands, and improved conservation efforts in Minnesota and across the country.
"I supported the Sportsmen's Act because it was a commonsense bill to ensure the future of Minnesota's outdoor heritage," said Sen. Franken. "I'm very disappointed that it was blocked, because it would have increased hunters' and anglers' access to public lands and waters, boosted conservation efforts, and reduced the deficit."
The measure, introduced by Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), was supported by 56 different conservation and wildlife groups, ranging from the National Rifle Association to The Nature Conservancy. It set aside funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to increase public land access, reauthorizes the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, and funded new shooting ranges.
Sen. Franken said he will support efforts to revive the bill to get it enacted into law.
