Press Releases

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies strongly supports the introduction of legislation to modernize the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act in the Senate. This important bipartisan legislation clarifies that the Pittman-Robertson (P-R) Fund has the flexibility to be used by state fish and wildlife agencies for outreach, communication, and education of hunters and recreational target shooters, including focused efforts on the recruitment, retention, and reactivation of hunters and recreational shooters through R3 initiatives without increasing taxes or existing user fees. Senator Risch (ID), along with Senator Cotton (AR), Senator Jones (AL), Senator Heinrich (NM), Senator Manchin (WV), Senator Alexander (TN), Senator Fischer (NE), Senator King (ME), and Senator Boozman (AR) introduced the legislation earlier today.

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies commends the support and leadership of Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Congressman Don Young (R-AK), who were joined by 209 of their colleagues on letters to the leadership of the U.S Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittees on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Interior Appropriations. The Senate and House letters, respectively, are in support of the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program which provides a critical investment to sustain our nation’s most vulnerable fish and wildlife. In the letters, Members urge the Subcommittees to provide the most robust funding possible for the Program, while also recognizing the fiscal constraints that the nation is under.

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies was pleased to see President Trump sign into law S.47, the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (formerly known as the Natural Resources Management Act). This bipartisan legislation permanently authorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a significant tool for increasing recreational access to public lands and supporting fish and wildlife habitat. This public lands package also contains more than 100 local and regional public lands bills that aim to benefit sportsmen and women.

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies supports the introduction of the Chronic Wasting Disease Transmission in Cervidae Study Act. This bill would enlist the assistance of the National Academies of Science, in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to help identify the predominant transmission pathways for the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), evaluate current practices to manage and control the disease, and recommend prioritized research and other actions that should be taken to reduce and control the spread of CWD across the country. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), along with Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) and Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced the legislation on February 7, 2019. This bill pairs with similar legislation introduced in the House earlier this week by Congressman Ralph Abraham (R-LA).

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies is excited to see the reintroduction of legislation to modernize the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (HR 877). This bipartisan legislation clarifies that the Pittman-Robertson(P-R) Fund can be used by state fish and wildlife agencies for outreach, communication, and education of hunters and recreational target shooters, including focused efforts on the recruitment, retention, and reactivation of hunters and recreational shooters through R3 initiatives without increasing taxes or existing user fees. Congressman Austin Scott (R-GA), along with Congressman Marc Veasey (D-TX), Congressman Richard Hudson (R-NC) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI), introduced the legislation yesterday.