The Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2014 () is a bill related to hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation in the United States. The bill was introduced into the

United States Senate The United States Senate is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and ...

during the

113th United States Congress The 113th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, from January 3, 2013, to January 3, 2015, during the fifth and sixth years of Presidency of Barack Obama, Barack Obama's presiden ...

Background

Thirteen different bills were identified as "related bills" to the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2014, including the

Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2013 The Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2013 () is a bill that was passed during the 113th United States Congress. The bill authorizes the United States Department of the Interior to issue electronic duck stamps as a form of Federal Duck Stam ...

(passed in the House on June 3, 2013) and the Sportsmen’s Heritage And Recreational Enhancement Act of 2013 (H.R. 3590; 113th Congress) (passed in the House on February 5, 2014).

Provisions

*The bill would "exempt ammunition and fishing tackle that contain lead from being regulated by the

Toxic Substances Control Act The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is a United States law, passed by the Congress in 1976 and administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), that regulates chemicals not regulated by other U.S. federal statutes, ...

. *The bill would allow states to issue electronic duck stamps, instead of forcing hunters to wait for physical stamps. *The bill would provide grants for

wetland conservation Wetland conservation is aimed at protecting and preserving areas of land including marshes, swamps, bogs, anfensthat are covered by water seasonally or permanently due to a variety of threats from both natural and Anthropogenic hazard, anthropoge ...

Procedural history

The Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2014 was introduced into the

on May 20, 2014 by Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC). The bill was not referred to any Senate committees.

Debate and discussion

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation urged members to support the bill, saying that it considers the bill "to be of vital importance for conservation, wildlife, and sportsmen and women." The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation said that they supported the bill because it "protects the use of traditional ammunition, allows more flexibility for federal funds to be used to build and maintain ranges on public lands and ensures access to federal lands for hunting, shooting and other outdoor activities." Senator

Roger Wicker Roger Frederick Wicker (born July 5, 1951) is an American politician, attorney, and United States Air Force, Air Force veteran serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from Mississi ...

(R-MS) supported the bill, saying that "Mississippians know the importance of efforts to preserve our natural resources for future generations." Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) also supported the bill, arguing that the bill "deserves broad support for its policies and reforms that will protect and enhance opportunities to hunt, fish and enjoy the outdoors." The

National Shooting Sports Foundation The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is an American national trade association for the firearms industry that is based in Newtown, Connecticut. Formed in 1961, the organization has more than 8,000 members: The NSSF helps write safety a ...

(NSSF) supported the bill and thanked Cochran for his support, saying that "Senator Cochran's advocacy will help in the fight to promote, preserve, and protect our cherished outdoor heritage and defend against the radical anti-hunting activists determined to derail this important legislation." The

Animal Welfare Institute The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is an American non-profit charitable organization founded by Christine Stevens in 1951 with the goal of reducing suffering inflicted on animals by humans. It is one of the oldest animal welfare organizations in ...

opposed the bill, calling it "an attack on our nation's wild animals and habitat." According to the organization, the bill would "eliminate the

Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency may refer to the following government organizations: * Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland), Australia * Environmental Protection Agency (Ghana) * Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) * Environmenta ...

's authority under the Toxic Substances Control Act to regulate hazardous substances - including lead, a dangerous neurotoxin - released by ammunition and sport fishing waste."

References

External links