Issue Position: Conservation and South Dakota's Sportsmen and Women

Issue Position

Issue Position: Conservation and South Dakota's Sportsmen and Women

Growing up on my family's farm near Houghton and the Sand Lake Wildlife Refuge in the northeast part of the state, I appreciate that outdoors activities are a treasured South Dakota tradition and vital to our state's economy. To preserve that tradition, and to grow our tourism industry, we need to enact sensible legislation regarding conservation.

The beauty of South Dakota as seen by Lewis & Clark 200 years ago is still intact. We have a quality of life that is the envy of the nation, including clean air and water, as well as rich and productive soil. Our wonderful culture of recreation and outdoors activities contributes greatly to our high quality of life, and in Congress, I continue to work on behalf of our sportsmen and women. We are all lucky to live here, and have an obligation and opportunity to preserve the nation's best quality of life for future generations.

Gun ownership. I received an "A" rating from the NRA because I oppose further restrictions on gun ownership at the federal level, and I believe that we should focus our attention on enforcing the laws already on the books. As a defender of our Second Amendment rights, I support allowing law-abiding citizens to exercise their right to carry firearms for personal protection. I oppose federal firearm registration and licensing, as well as attempts to limit gun owners' rights through bans on types of firearms or ammunition.

Wetlands. I support initiatives like the Farmable Wetlands Pilot Program, which was created to protect small and sensitive farmed wetlands and to compensate producers for taking these acres out of production. I recognize the need to maintain all wetlands including seasonal and temporary wetlands that hold water for only brief periods of time. They are very important to nesting waterfowl, and also important to water quality and flood control.

Grassland Reserve Program. One of the most popular conservation programs in South Dakota is the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP). However, funding has been continually low, preventing significant numbers of acres from being enrolled. In Congress, I am working to ensure that this conservation measure is adequately funded to help landowners protect, restore, and enhance grasslands, rangeland, pastureland, shrubland and other lands on their property. Through conservation of our grasslands we can help maintain South Dakota's viable ranching operations and help ensure we not only have safe drinking water but abundant fishing.

Conservation Reserve Program. The Conservation Reserve Program has done much to help us expand South Dakota's wildlife habitat while improving our water quality and restoring soil quality. Not only does the program bring us many conservation benefits but it also compensates South Dakota's landowners for entering into multi-year contracts to convert highly erodible cropland or other sensitive acreage to vegetative cover, such as tame or native grasses, wildlife plantings, trees, filterstrips or riparian buffers. I am working with members from both sides of the aisle to expand this critical conservation program to bring additional benefits to South Dakota's landowners and to protect our valuable wetlands.

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