On February 29, H.R. 4089, the "Sportsmen's Heritage Act of 2012" was marked up by the Natural Resources Committee.  This legislation promotes America's hunting heritage and will positively impact sportsmen throughout the country.  For these reasons, NRA fully supports this bill. 

H.R. 4089 is a compilation of a four different bills (H.R. 991, H.R. 2834, H.R. 1558, and H.R. 3440) that promote our hunting heritage:

• H.R. 991, "The Polar Bear Conservation and Fairness Act of 2011" amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to issue importation permits to hunters for polar bear trophies taken locally before the polar bear was listed as "threatened." Even with the listing decision made on May 15, 2008, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) would have allowed these trophies to be imported, but a Court decision forced USFWS to make the listing effective immediately (as opposed to after a standard 30-90 day notice period). Again, this provision only allows for the importation of polar bears legally harvested prior to the USFWS listing decision.
  
  
• H.R. 2834, "The Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act," recognizes the rightful place of recreational hunting, fishing, and shooting on Federal lands; supports Executive Order 13443, which directs Federal land management agencies to facilitate the expansion and enhancement of hunting on Federal lands; and ensures sound scientific management of wildlife and habitat.  It also establishes an "open unless closed" policy for recreational hunting, fishing and shooting on lands managed by the US Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
  
  
• H.R. 1558 amends the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to prevent this and future administrations from using the EPA to eliminate the right of hunters, shooters and anglers to use traditional ammunition and fishing tackle.  It also amends TSCA to clarify that the EPA does not have the authority to regulate "shot, bullets and other projectiles, propellants, and primers… and sport fishing equipment components."
  
  
• H.R. 3440, "The Recreational Shooting Protection Act," prevents a ban on recreational shooting on BLM lands nationwide.  The bill requires congressional approval for any recreational shooting restrictions proposed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on BLM-managed national monument lands, such as the 600,000 acres in southern Arizona that the BLM is currently proposing to close to recreational shooting.  In 2010, the BLM closed 400,000 acres of publicly-owned, national monument lands in three states to recreational shooting activities.  This bill further directs the BLM to manage national monument land in a manner that supports, promotes, and enhances recreational shooting opportunities.

During mark up, two anti-gun amendments were offered by Congressman Grijalva (D-Ariz.), and both were defeated overwhelmingly (for more information about the amendments click here). 

H.R. 4089 was favorably reported to the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 27 - 16.   

NRA would like to thank Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) for introducing this important legislation, as well as Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) and Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) for bringing this bill up in a timely manner.  NRA would also like to thank all committee members who voted for this legislation, and against both anti-gun amendments.  We expect this bill to be considered on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in the next couple of weeks. 

Please be sure to contact your member of Congress and urge him or her to support this important legislation.  You can find contact information for your U.S. Representative by using the Write Your Representatives tool at www.NRAILA.org.  You may also contact your Representative by phone at (202) 225-3121.