DUCKS UNLIMITED AND KEEP AMERICA FISHING

[BigIrish]

I copied and pasted this from the BMan Bevis on BBF. -Ray

DU and Keep America fishing both sent out action emails about the Sportsmen's Act of 2012

DU's link had an easy automatic email system to send a message of support to your senators.
http://www.capwiz.com/ducks/issues/aler ... d=61443411


From DU:
Future of hunting and shooting on federal public lands in jeopardy - TAKE ACTION TODAY!
Sportsmen's Act of 2012 gives path to passing NAWCA
Contact your senators today to voice your support for passage of this critical legislation!

The Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 (S. 3525) is an essential piece of legislation to the expansion and enhancement of hunting, recreational fishing and shooting on federal public lands, and the sustainability of fish and wildlife populations that support those activities. It is a compilation of a number of different bills that promote and advance our hunting, recreational fishing and shooting heritage, plus the continued authorization of several vital conservation programs, including those that enhance waterfowl and other fish and wildlife populations and habitat.

DU supports S. 3525 and urges you to call your Senators to vote for passage of this important legislation.

HISTORY

This bill is a compilation of 19 bipartisan bills important to the sportsmen’s community to support access and conservation of habitat and species. The bill focuses on two core issues to DU and our membership: 1) habitat conservation and; 2) increasing access for recreational hunting.
With all of the bills in this package carrying bipartisan support, the measure stands a good chance of passing with your help!

Several of the hunting and fishing bills included in this legislation have passed the House of Representatives on a bipartisan basis as part of H.R.4089, which Ducks Unlimited strongly supported.

BILL OVERVIEW

"These bills are important and diverse in the support they provide natural resource conservation," said Paul Schmidt, Ducks Unlimited's chief conservation officer. "Some of the most important programs for waterfowl, including reauthorization of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, the Migratory Bird Habitat Investment and Enhancement Act and the Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act, are part of this package.

"The Sportsmen's Act of 2012 is overwhelmingly composed of bipartisan bills. "It's encouraging to see that people can work across the aisle when it comes to our natural resources," Schmidt added. "Ducks Unlimited appreciates the work that the sponsors have put into this important legislation."

Nearly 35 million acres of existing public land have no or restricted access. Sportsmen cite the loss of access as the number one reason they quit hunting or fishing.
The bill continues critical habitat investment programs which are, or have expired, including NAWCA, Partners for Fish and Wildlife, and Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act. These programs all leverage four dollars of private investment for each dollar from the program.
This bill reauthorizes Federal Lands Transaction Facilitation Act, which uses “land for land” approach to improve access.
It also creates a 1.5 percent set aside from LWCF to specifically address access issues by purchasing in holdings in existing public lands and securing easements to access-restricted acreage.
Sportsmen and women are significant financial contributors to habitat conservation. Since 1934, funds raised from the Duck Stamp have conserved 5 million acres of wetland habitat. Ninety-eight cents of every dollar go directly to preserving wetlands. This bill allows the Secretary of Interior to reevaluate the price of the Duck Stamp every three years and permanently offer an electronic duck stamp, assuring the stamp price can match inflation. The price of the stamp was last raised in 1991 to $15. In the meantime, land prices have skyrocketed, and the acreage purchased with funds from stamp sales has been decreasing.

From Keep America Fishing:

Making Public Lands Public Act – Increases access for angling, hunting and recreational shooting on federal lands by directing 1.5 percent of the Land and Water Conservation Fund to ensure access to fishing, hunting and other recreational activities.

The Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Protection Act – Blocks ongoing attempts to federally ban lead in recreational fishing equipment and ammunition by amending the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Billfish Conservation Act – Conserves declining billfish populations by prohibiting the commercial sale and importation of billfish throughout the U.S., with exceptions for Hawaii and the Pacific Insular Area islands to preserve traditional fishing practices.

National Fish Habitat Conservation Act – Authorizes the National Fish Habitat Partnership, the most comprehensive effort ever attempted to conserve, restore and enhance fish habitat on a range-wide scale.

Artificial Reefs in the Gulf of Mexico – Requires the Department of the Interior to coordinate federal and state efforts in order to maintain idle drilling platforms as valuable artificial fish reefs.