Bipartisan Walz SHARE Act Passes House
Bill preserves and promotes outdoor hunting, fishing, and conservation heritage
Washington, DC [2/5/14] – Today, the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational (SHARE) Act, pro sportsmen’s and sportswomen’s legislation that will preserve and promote our outdoor hunting, fishing and conservation heritage, authored by Representatives Tim Walz (D-MN), Bob Latta (R-OH), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), and Robert Wittman (R-VA), passed the House of Representatives.
“As an avid outdoorsman, I’m proud of this historic legislation that will increase access to the outdoors and ensure our strong hunting heritage is preserved for generations to come,” said Representative Tim Walz, Vice Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus. “The SHARE Act is based upon one fact; sportsmen and women are some of our nation’s most effective conservationists. This legislation will work to promote this simple fact by increasing access to the outdoors and funding common sense conservation practices.”
The SHARE Act will ensure outdoor traditions are protected and advanced, and addresses some of the most pressing concerns of American hunters and recreational anglers.
Background on SHARE Act:
Title I - Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Protection Act (H.R. 322)
This section excludes ammo and fishing tackle from the Toxic Substances Control Act, leaving decisions about tackle to State Fish and Game Agencies and the Fish and Wildlife Service, who currently regulate ammo and tackle. This codifies that the EPA does not have the ability to regulate tackle.
Title II - Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act (H.R. 2463)
This section amends the Pittman-Robertson Act by adjusting the funding limitations. It also encourages federal land agencies to cooperate with state and local authorities to maintain shooting ranges.
Title III - Public Lands Filming (H.R. 2798)
This section directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, for any film crew of five persons or fewer, to require a permit and assess an annual fee of $200 for commercial filming activities or similar projects on federal lands and waterways administered by the Secretary. This prohibits the Secretary, for persons holding such a permit, from assessing any additional fee for commercial filming activities and similar projects that occur in those areas during those hours.
Title IV Polar Bear Conservation and Fairness Act (H.R. 1818)
This section allows for the Secretary to authorize permits for re-importation of legally harvested Polar Bears from approved populations in Canada before the 2008 ban.
Title V - Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act (H.R. 1206)
This section would grant the Secretary of the Interior permanent authority to authorize any state to issue electronic duck stamps. It also outlines electronic duck stamp application requirements.
Title VI - Access to Water Resources Development Projects Act (H.R. 2046)
This section prohibits the Secretary of the Army from promulgating or enforcing any regulation that prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm at a water resources development project administered by the Corps of Engineers if: (1) the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm, and (2) the possession of the firearm is in compliance with the law of the state in which the project is located.
Title VII - Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee (H.R. 2799)
This section permanently establishes the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee to advise the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on wildlife and habitat conservation, recreational hunting and shooting.
Title VIII - Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act (H.R. 1825)
This section would require the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service to keep their lands open to hunting, recreational fishing, and shooting and facilitate the use of and access to Federal public lands and waters for these activities, pursuant to reasonable exceptions.
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