Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. WITTMAN. 2406, the SHARE Act.

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Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Chair, before the House today is the Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2016, better known as the SHARE Act. It is a package of commonsense bills that will increase opportunities for hunters, recreational shooters, and anglers; eliminate unneeded regulatory impediments; safeguard against new regulations that impede outdoor sporting activities; and protect Second Amendment rights. Similar packages were passed with strong bipartisan support in both the 112th and 113th Congresses.

Outdoor sporting activities, including hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting, are deeply engrained in the fabric of America's culture and heritage. Values instilled by partaking in these activities are passed down from generation to generation and play a significant part in the lives of millions of Americans.

Much of America's outdoor sporting activity occurs on our Nation's Federal lands. Unfortunately, Federal agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management often prevent or impede access to Federal lands for outdoor sporting activities. Because lack of access is one of the key reasons sportsmen and -women stop participating in outdoor sporting activities, ensuring the public has reliable access to our Nation's Federal lands must remain a top priority.

The SHARE Act does just that. One of the key provisions in the bill, the Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage Opportunities Act, will increase and sustain access for hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting on Federal lands for generations to come. Specifically, it protects sportsmen and -women from arbitrary efforts by the Federal Government to block Federal lands from hunting and fishing activities by implementing an ``open until closed'' management policy.

Another provision in the package will give State and Federal agencies the tools to jointly create and maintain recreational shooting ranges on Federal lands. In addition, the bill allows the Department of the Interior to designate hunting access corridors throughout our national parks so that sportsmen and -women can access adjacent Federal lands to hunt and fish.

The package also protects Second Amendment rights and the use of traditional ammunition and fishing tackle. It defends law-abiding individuals' constitutional right to keep and bear arms on lands managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and ensures that hunters are not burdened by outdated laws preventing bows and crossbows from being transported across national parks.

Finally, the package prevents the implementation of onerous constraints by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on lawfully possessed domestic ivory products and eliminates red tape associated with the importation of 41 lawfully harvested polar bear hunting trophies.

This important legislation will sustain America's rich hunting and fishing traditions, improve access to our Federal lands for responsible outdoor sporting activities, and help ensure that the current and future generations of sportsmen and -women are able to enjoy the sporting activities our country has to offer and what we hold dear.

I strongly encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important election. House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, 22 February 2016. Hon. Bob Goodlatte, Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: During the week of February 22, 2016, the House will be debating H.R. 2406, the Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2015. The bill was referred primarily to the Committee on Natural Resources, with an additional referral to the Committee on the Judiciary, among other committees.

At the request of Vice Chairman Cynthia Lummis, I ask that you allow the inclusion of the text of H.R. 3279, the Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act, as passed by the House of Representatives, as part of a manager's amendment to the bill. Mrs. Lummis is a cosponsor of the measure and has discussed this course of action with the bill's author. The Senate counterpart to H.R. 2406 already includes such a provision, and I believe it would be a substantial improvement to the bill and bolster its purpose of increased sportsmen's opportunities to hunt, fish and recreationally shoot. If the amendment is adopted, this action would in no way affect your jurisdiction over the subject matter of the amendment, and it will not serve as precedent for future amendments. In addition, should a conference on the bill be necessary, I would support your request to have the Committee on the Judiciary represented on the conference committee on this matter. Finally, I would be pleased to include this letter and any response in the Congressional Record to document our agreement.

Thank you for your consideration of my request, and I look forward to further opportunities to work with you this Congress. Sincerely, Rob Bishop, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC, February 23, 2016. Hon. Rob Bishop, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Bishop: I am writing with respect to H.R. 2406, the ``Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2015,'' which the House is scheduled to debate this week. As a result of your having consulted with us on the inclusion of the text of H.R. 3279, the ``Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act,'' as part of your Committee's manager's amendment to H.R. 2406, I agree to allow the text of H.R. 3279 to be included in the amendment.

The Judiciary Committee takes this action with our mutual understanding that by allowing the inclusion of the text of H.R. 3279 in the manager's amendment, we do not waive any jurisdiction over subject matter contained in H.R. 3279 or similar legislation, and that our Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as H.R. 2406 moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction. Our Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving H.R. 2406, and asks that you support any such request.

I would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration of H.R. 2406. Sincerely, Bob Goodlatte, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, February 23, 2016. Hon. Kevin Brady, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: On December 10, 2015, the Committee on Natural Resources favorably reported as amended H.R. 2406, the Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2015.

The reported bill contains provisions affecting import bans, a matter within the jurisdiction of the Ways and Means Committee. I ask that you not seek a sequential referral of the bill so that it may be scheduled by the Majority Leader this week. This concession in no way affects your jurisdiction over the subject matter of the bill, and it will not serve as precedent for future referrals. In addition, should a conference on the bill be necessary, I would support your request to have the Committee on Ways and Means represented on the conference committee. Finally, I would be pleased to include this letter and any response in the Congressional Record to document this agreement.

Thank you for your consideration of my request, and I look forward to further opportunities to work with you this Congress. Sincerely, Rob Bishop, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC, February 23, 2016. Hon. Rob Bishop, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Bishop: I am writing with respect to H.R. 2406, the ``Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2015,'' which the Committee on Natural Resources ordered reported favorably. As you note, several provisions of the bill affect the establishment and operation of import bans, a matter that is within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means. I agree to forego action on this bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor for consideration.

The Committee takes this action with our mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 2406 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that our Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction. Our Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation, and asks that you support any such request.

I would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration of H.R. 2406. Sincerely, Kevin Brady, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, December 2, 2015. Hon. K. Michael Conaway, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: On October 8, 2015, the Committee on Natural Resources ordered favorably reported as amended H.R. 2406, the Sportsman's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2015. The bill was referred primarily to the Committee on Natural Resources, with an additional referral to the Committee on Agriculture, among other committees. My staff has shared a copy of the reported text with your staff.

I ask that you allow the Committee on Agriculture to be discharged from further consideration of the bill so that it may be scheduled by the Majority Leader. This discharge in no way affects your jurisdiction over the subject matter of the bill, and it will not serve as precedent for future referrals. In addition, should a conference on the bill be necessary, I would support your request to have the Committee on Agriculture represented on the conference committee. Finally, I would be pleased to include this letter and any response in the bill report filed by the Committee on Natural Resources to memorialize our understanding, as well as in the Congressional Record.

Thank you for your consideration of my request and for the extraordinary cooperation shown by you and your staff over matters of shared jurisdiction. I look forward to further opportunities to work with you this Congress. Sincerely, Rob Bishop, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, December 8, 2015. Hon. Rob Bishop, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for the opportunity to review H.R. 2406, the Sportsman's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2015. As you are aware, the bill was primarily referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, while the Agriculture Committee received an additional referral.

I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this legislation before the House in an expeditious manner and, accordingly, I agree to discharge H.R. 2406 from further consideration by the Committee on Agriculture. I do so with the understanding that by discharging the bill, the Committee on Agriculture does not waive any future jurisdictional claim on this or similar matters. Further, the Committee on Agriculture reserves the right to seek the appointment of conferees, if it should become necessary.

I ask that you insert a copy of our exchange of letters into the Congressional Record during consideration of this measure on the House floor.

Thank you for your courtesy in this matter and I look forward to continued cooperation between our respective committees. Sincerely, K. Michael Conaway, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, December 7, 2015. Hon. Bill Shuster, Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: On October 8, 2015, the Committee on Natural Resources ordered favorably reported as amended H.R. 2406, the Sportsman's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2015. The bill was referred primarily to the Committee on Natural Resources, with an additional referral to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, among other committees.

I ask that you allow the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to be discharged from further consideration of the bill so that it may be scheduled by the Majority Leader. This discharge in no way affects your jurisdiction over the subject matter of the bill, and it will not serve as precedent for future referrals. In addition, should a conference on the bill be necessary, I would support your request to have the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure represented on the conference committee. Finally, I would be pleased to include this letter and any response in the bill report filed by the Committee on Natural Resources to memorialize our understanding, as well as in the Congressional Record.

Thank you for your consideration of my request and for the extraordinary cooperation shown by you and your staff over matters of shared jurisdiction. I look forward to further opportunities to work with you this Congress. Sincerely, Rob Bishop, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Washington, DC, December 8, 2015. Hon. Rob Bishop, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Bishop: I write concerning H.R. 2406, the Sportmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2015 (SHARE Act). This legislation includes matters that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

In order to expedite Floor consideration of H.R. 2406, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will forgo action on this bill. However, this is conditional on our mutual understanding that forgoing consideration of the bill does not prejudice the Committee with respect to the appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or similar legislation that fall within the Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. Should a conference on the bill be necessary, I fully expect the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to be represented on the conference committee.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter and for agreeing to include a copy of this letter in the bill report filed by the Committee on Natural Resources, as well as in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration. Sincerely, Bill Shuster, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, December 9, 2015. Hon. Fred Upton, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: On October 8, 2015, the Committee on Natural Resources ordered favorably reported as amended H.R. 2406, the Sportsman's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2015. The bill was referred primarily to the Committee on Natural Resources, with an additional referral to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, among other committees.

I ask that you allow the Committee on Energy and Commerce to be discharged from further consideration of the bill so that it may be scheduled by the Majority Leader. This discharge in no way affects your jurisdiction over the subject matter of the bill, and it will not serve as precedent for future referrals. In addition, should a conference on the bill be necessary, I would support your request to have the Committee on Energy and Commerce represented on the conference committee. Finally, I would be pleased to include this letter and any response in the bill report filed by the Committee on Natural Resources to memorialize our understanding, as well as in the Congressional Record.

Thank you for your consideration of my request and for the extraordinary cooperation shown by you and your staff over matters of shared jurisdiction. I look forward to further opportunities to work with you this Congress. Sincerely, Rob Bishop, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC, December 9, 2015. Hon. Rob Bishop, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 2406, the Sportsman's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2015.

As you noted, the bill was additionally referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and I agree to the discharge of the Committee from further consideration of the bill so that it may be scheduled by the Majority Leader. This discharge in no way affects the Committee's jurisdiction over the subject matter of the bill, and it will not serve as precedent for future referrals. In addition, should a conference on the bill be necessary, I appreciate your support for my request to have the Committee represented on the conference committee.

Finally, I appreciate the inclusion of your letter and this response in the bill report tiled by the Committee on Natural Resources to memorialize our understanding, as well as in the Congressional Record.

Thank you for your assistance. Sincerely, Fred Upton, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, December 9, 2015. Hon. Bob Goodlatte, Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: On October 8, 2015, the Committee on Natural Resources ordered favorably reported as amended H.R. 2406, the Sportsman's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2015. The bill was referred primarily to the Committee on Natural Resources, with an additional referral to the Committee on the Judiciary, among other committees.

I ask that you allow the Committee on the Judiciary to be discharged from further consideration of the bill so that it may be scheduled by the Majority Leader. This discharge in no way affects your jurisdiction over the subject matter of the bill, and it will not serve as precedent for future referrals. In addition, should a conference on the bill be necessary, I would support your request to have the Committee on the Judiciary represented on the conference committee. Finally, I would be pleased to include this letter and any response in the bill report filed by the Committee on Natural Resources to memorialize our understanding, as well as in the Congressional Record.

Thank you for your consideration of my request, and I look forward to further opportunities to work with you this Congress. Sincerely, Rob Bishop, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC, December 9, 2015. Hon. Rob Bishop, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Bishop: I am writing with respect to H.R. 2406, the ``Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2015,'' which the Committee on Natural Resources recently ordered reported favorably. As a result of your having consulted with us on provisions in H.R. 2406 that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary, I agree to discharge our Committee from further consideration of this bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor for consideration.

The Judiciary Committee takes this action with our mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 2406 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that our Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction. Our Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation, and asks that you support any such request.

I would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of H.R. 2406. Sincerely, Bob Goodlatte, Chairman.
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Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock).

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Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise).

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Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop), the chairman of the Natural Resources Committee.

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Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would like respond just briefly to the gentleman's remarks concerning ivory.

If you look at the current state of regulatory efforts by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, for those nations that have sustainable elephant populations, it would actually make it much, much more difficult to manage them and it would actually encourage more poaching.

We want to make sure that we allow the legal trade of legally harvested elephants. In doing that, that makes sure that African nations can put in place sustainable programs for the harvesting of elephants, where there are overpopulations, to make sure that they have the wherewithal to put people on the ground to stop poaching.

This is a sustainable effort, I believe, that is critical, and these regulations will actually stop that.

Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Benishek).

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Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Gibbs).

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Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta).

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Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Virginia for his perspectives on this and for the good conversation we have had in trying to find common ground to make sure that we are, indeed, supporting the great outdoors and the sportsmen and -women that enjoy the great outdoors. I thank him for his efforts there and look forward to continuing to work with him.

I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Duncan).

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Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I thank the gentleman from South Carolina for his leadership as vice chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus.

We have heard a lot of, I think, good efforts today in wanting to ensure that our sportsmen and our sportswomen have access to Federal properties, to make sure they can enjoy outdoor sports. I think that is absolutely critical. That is what this bill is about. It is about clarifying to make sure that it is the legislative body that does the directing, not the bureaucrats. I want to make sure there is a balance there because we hear each and every day from our constituents about what they feel needs to happen with their land.

We must remember this land belongs to the taxpayers, and we must find responsible ways to make sure that there is access to that land for everyone. I want to make sure that we do that. I believe that this bill achieves that.

I understand, too, that we want to make sure that their voices are heard. Many times from the side of these agencies, they will consider comments, but many times the comments aren't included. This ensures that Congress has a role in defining what those opportunities are. I want to make sure those voices are heard. I can't help but believe that everyone here is in favor of making sure that their voices are heard and that opportunities exist across all these Federal lands for our outdoorsmen, our sportsmen and -women of this Nation.

I want to make sure, too, that we are clear that all of us are against stopping the illegal trafficking of ivory. All of us here want to make sure that stops. I think there are reasonable and thoughtful ways that do that that don't inhibit the sportsmen who want to go there to be part of the legal process to harvest an elephant in the areas where there is an overpopulation. The dollars there are used to support local populations in that area, villages.

None of that animal is wasted. Every bit of it is used. The fees that are collected for hunters are put into stopping the poaching effort there. I think those are sustainable models to make sure that elephant populations continue in those areas and that we, indeed, have the ability and resources in Africa to stop those efforts by poachers.

I think sustainable hunting is a way to do that. In any way impeding the flow of ivory back into the United States from legal hunting operations doesn't allow us to do that. Making sure, too, that it is simple and straightforward for owners of ivory to continue to own that, especially those pieces that are family heirlooms, and not have to go through a long, drawn-out bureaucratic process to prove that something is yours that has been passed down through family history where you may not have documentation to do that.

These efforts that U.S. Fish and Wildlife agencies are putting forward would make it in many instances very, very difficult for individuals and families to demonstrate that. Let's make this process easy and let's get at the issue, and that is the illegally harvested ivory that is coming out of Africa to the United States.

We talked, too, about access elements. We heard the number used that 99 percent of our ocean waters are open to fishing, to recreational fishing. But remember that the entire ocean is different in its habitats. So fish live in certain areas. I would argue that the 1 percent that is being closed off many times is the most productive area for fishermen. It is where the habitat rests. It is where the fish are.

So if you were to say, don't worry about it, you can hunt the entire Sahara Desert, that wouldn't mean much to sportsmen. The same that you are saying if you are allowed to fish these other areas that don't hold the habitat that allow fish to live in those areas also doesn't keep in mind making sure that recreational fishermen have access to the place where fish live. So I want to make sure that that is clear when we talk about these numbers, 99 percent versus the 1 percent.

Remember, this bill is not about what is not included. It is about really making those opportunities available for those men and women who hunt, fish, and use the outdoors. I am in full support of LWCF. I am in full support of NAWCA. I do believe that we ought to reauthorize those pieces of legislation, and I do believe that there are mechanisms to do that. I believe that the vast majority of folks on our Committee on Natural Resources, as well as in Congress, want to see those things happening.

The difficulty always is in taking one bill and adding a bunch of different elements to it. I think those bills are important enough that they deserve their own level of debate and own level of attention about what we do in reauthorizing those bills.

I think folks outside the 90 square miles of Washington look at us and say, you know, why are you putting all these other elements into a bill rather than debating them individually?

I think we can put too much into a piece of legislation where it becomes confusing and it doesn't get after the true purpose behind the original bill. We tried to put together pieces that were similar in scope but didn't include other areas that really deserve their own level of debate.

So that is the reason that LWCF and NAWCA was left out of this, not by any intention to say we shouldn't address those, but by understanding that we have a responsibility to try to keep these packages of bills as simple and straightforward as we can.

Also, when we talk about lead, remember that the lead we talk about is in things like fishing sinkers. Remember, fishing sinkers are used in water. The gentlewoman from California talked about the issue with California condors. Well, California condors are not an aquatic bird, so I don't think we have to worry about them swimming in water and getting hold of these fishing sinkers.

The same way with bullets. I understand there are a few instances where they might have found a bullet associated with ingestion with a California condor, but the vast majority of shooting sports are put forth in legal ranges where the lead ends up in the ground. It ends up in the ground at a shooting range. Remember, that is the exact area where the lead came from. So returning it to the ground where we know eventually through the years it does indeed decay, it does indeed break down, those things are legal and I think environmentally responsible ways that lead is used in both hunting and fishing. Let's not stop those efforts. I want to make sure that those things happen.

If there are specific issues related to the California condor, I think we ought to address that, but these carte blanche one-size-fits- all efforts to say let's ban lead across the spectrum in the shooting sports, for hunting, and for fishing doesn't get at those root issues and it creates unnecessary burdens on folks who are using those in a legal way and in a way that doesn't affect our fish and wildlife populations. So I want to make sure that those things continue.

I do believe that there are many more areas of agreement than disagreement on this bill. I think that we have talked to folks on many aspects of this. It is different in its scope with the Senate bill, and I look forward to its successful passage out of this House and for our ability to bring it to a conference committee in the Senate and to work through those particular differences between the House and the Senate bill.

Mr. Chairman, I would urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2406, the SHARE Act.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

The motion was agreed to.

Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Hill) having assumed the chair, Mr. Walker, Acting Chair of the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, reported that that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2406) to protect and enhance opportunities for recreational hunting, fishing, and shooting, and for other purposes, had come to no resolution thereon.

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