Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, the duck stamp, or Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, is the only Federal conservation revenue stamp. This means that 98 percent of the sale price is used to purchase conservation easements and to acquire wetland habitats for the National Wildlife Refuge System.

The duck stamp also provides an opportunity to showcase wildlife art, with the Fish and Wildlife Service hosting an art competition each year and the winning piece selected for next year's design.

Sportsmen and women, artists, and conservationists purchase duck stamps as a collectible to cover entry fees to any National Wildlife Refuge System unit, as a hunting license, or as a donation to conservation.

Millions of stamps have been sold in recent years, contributing tens of millions of dollars toward conservation each year. This bipartisan bill would modernize government services by allowing online access to the Federal duck stamp. It would save applicants and agency officials time and money and make it more accessible for hunters, conservationists, and collectors to purchase duck stamps and to support wetland conservation.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues from Arkansas and Louisiana, who represent great States to go hunting in if you can't make it all the way out to Oregon. I welcome you all there.

Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill, and it should pass. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I hope this can be unanimous, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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