Last night the House passed H.R. 4089, the Sportsmen's Heritage Act of 2012, with strong bipartisan support by 274 to 146. Rep. Shuler and other leaders of the bipartisan Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus crafted and introduced the landmark legislative package to protect and advance opportunities for sportsmen across the country.
"As a lifelong outdoorsman and Vice Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, I was proud to see this unprecedented pro-sportsmen legislation pass the House with bipartisan support," said Rep. Shuler. "Outdoor traditions like hunting and fishing are not only an important part of our mountain heritage in Western North Carolina, they help fund critical conservation efforts. This bill will help preserve our national sporting heritage and provide much-needed funding to protect our public lands."
H.R. 4089 is a compilation of four separate bipartisan sportsmen's bills (H.R. 2834, H.R. 3440, H.R. 991, and H.R. 1558) that promote and advance America's hunting and recreational fishing and shooting heritage. The bill recognizes the integral role that sportsmen play in the management and conservation of our nation's public lands and natural resources. Revenue from hunting and fishing licenses and excise taxes on sportsmen's equipment provide millions of dollars a year to wildlife conservation and management initiatives. H.R. 4089 will help maintain this revenue stream.
The bill is currently under consideration in the Senate.