Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 788) to amend the Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2013 to allow States to issue fully electronic stamps under that Act, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: S. 788

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023''. SEC. 2. AUTHORIZING FULLY ELECTRONIC STAMPS.

(a) In General.--Section 5 of the Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2013 (16 U.S.C. 718r) is amended--

(1) in subsection (a)--

(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Actual Stamp'' and inserting ``Electronic Stamp'';

(B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``an actual stamp'' and inserting ``the electronic stamp''; and

(C) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:

``(1) on the date of purchase of the electronic stamp; and'';

(2) in subsection (c), by striking ``actual stamps'' and inserting ``actual stamps under subsection (e)'';

(3) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and

(4) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:

``(e) Delivery of Actual Stamps.--The Secretary shall issue an actual stamp after March 10 of each year to each individual that purchased an electronic stamp for the preceding waterfowl season.''.

(b) Contents of Electronic Stamp.--Section 2 of the Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2013 (16 U.S.C. 718o) is amended--

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Federal'' and all that follows through ``that is printed'' and inserting ``Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp required under the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act (16 U.S.C. 718a et seq.) that is printed''; and

(2) in paragraph (3)--

(A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end;

(B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

``(F) may contain an image of the actual stamp.''.

(c) Stamp Valid Through Close of Hunting Season.--Section 6 of the Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2013 (16 U.S.C. 718s) is amended--

(1) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``shall, during the effective period of the electronic stamp--'' and inserting ``shall--''; and

(2) in subsection (c), by striking ``for a period agreed to by the State and the Secretary, which shall not exceed 45 days'' and inserting ``through the first June 30 that occurs after the date of issuance of the electronic stamp by the State''.

(d) Electronic Stamps as Permit.--Section 1(a)(1) of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act (16 U.S.C. 718a(a)(1)) is amended--

(1) by inserting ``as an electronic stamp (as defined in section 2 of the Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2013 (16 U.S.C. 718o)) or'' after ``Conservation Stamp,''; and

(2) by striking ``face of the stamp'' and inserting ``face of the actual stamp (as defined in that section)''.

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Mr. WESTERMAN. 788, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 788, sponsored by my friend and fellow Razorback, Senator John Boozman from Arkansas. This bill makes commonsense improvements to wildlife regulations by modernizing how waterfowl hunters across the country can purchase a Federal duck stamp.

Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves), who had a companion bill in the House that went through our committee.

The Federal duck stamp was first created when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act into law in 1934. The law required waterfowl and other migratory bird hunters, ages 16 and over, to purchase and possess a valid duck stamp prior to taking migratory waterfowl.

Current law requires hunters to physically possess a signed duck stamp while hunting for any migratory waterfowl. Even in States where electronic licensing is used, a signed physical duck stamp is required.

Mr. Speaker, on my mobile phone, I have the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission hunting app. Right here, front and center, I have my Federal duck stamp electronically. Technically, I would be breaking the law if a game warden approached me when I was hunting and this is all that I had. I still have to carry my little duck stamps in my pocket that are signed, both the State and Federal duck stamps.

This bill would modernize that program so that these electronic duck stamps would suffice if you were approached by a game warden.

S. 788 modernizes the program by removing the 45-day requirement to have a physical duck stamp and allowing States the option to sell electronic duck stamps for the entirety of the hunting season.

Under this bill, purchasers would still receive the physical stamp at the end of their State waterfowl season, therefore preserving the long legacy of the Federal duck stamp for generations to come.

This is a good governance approach that will continue the unmatched American tradition of wildlife conservation through sportsmen participation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Garret Graves of Louisiana for his tireless work on this issue. He sponsored the House companion to S. 788. After today, this legislation is one step closer to becoming law.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to make clear that the gentleman from Louisiana, even though he looks like a duck commander, he is not a duck commander, but he does enjoy the outdoors.

The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, which is based on a user pays system through the purchase of items like the Federal duck stamp, is the envy of the world. In total, fees paid by the sportsmen communities contribute over $1 billion in revenue annually that goes toward wildlife conservation, which is truly a remarkable achievement.

S. 788 is a commonsense, bipartisan bill that underpins the Northern American model by giving hunters certainty and modernizing the Federal duck stamp process.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

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