Hoeven Works to Move Sportsmen's Bill through Committee

Press Release

Senator John Hoeven this week worked to move bipartisan sportsmen's legislation through the Senate Energy Committee, an important first step in the legislative process. At a Senate Energy Committee hearing, the senator stressed the economic benefits of the Sportsmen's Act of 2015, which would increase access to hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation opportunities.

Hoeven is a cosponsor of the legislation which reauthorizes important conservation programs, improves access to federal lands and helps to boost the outdoor recreation economy.

"Like many North Dakotans, I enjoy spending time outdoors hunting and fishing," said Hoeven. "The Sportsmen's Act is not only good for our sportsmen and women, but also for our economy. This bipartisan bill will help increase access to opportunities for outdoor recreation, which is an important industry in our nation."

Jeffrey Crane, President of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, testified that the U.S. outdoor recreation industry has a collective annual economic impact of $90 billion currently, and if this legislation passes that should increase.

Today's Energy Committee hearing is the first hearing on the legislation this Congress. The committee considered the bill's provisions that fall under its jurisdiction. The Environment and Public Works Committee is expected to hold a hearing soon on provisions within its jurisdiction.

Witnesses at the Energy Committee hearing included: Steve Ellis, Deputy Director of Operations at the Bureau of Land Management; Leslie Weldon, Deputy Chief of the National Forest System at the U.S. Forest Service; Jeffrey Crane, President of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation; and Whit Fosburgh, President and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

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