EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The National Wild Turkey Federation is pleased with the Senate’s Environmental and Public Works Committee passage of America’s Conservation Enhancement Act, S.3051, a bill that includes numerous measures for wildlife conservation, including the Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow’s Needs Act, an NWTF priority.
The Pittman-Robertson Modernization provision, originally S.2092, sponsored by Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, and others, authorizes a portion of funds allotted in the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, commonly referred to as the Pittman-Robertson Act, for state natural resources agencies’ utilization to recruit, retain and reactivate hunters and recreational shooters. The legislation now grants more flexibility for agencies to utilize these funds for outreach and communication with the public to promote hunting and recreational shooting.
“The National Wild Turkey Federation appreciates the efforts of the Senate Environment and Public Works committee to advance legislation important to put good conservation on the ground and to ensure the future of our hunting heritage,” said NWTF CEO Becky Humphries. “We especially appreciate inclusion of Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow’s Needs. This important legislation will give our state wildlife agencies the flexibility they need to promote and recruit newcomers to hunting and recreational shooting which will help secure the future funding base for wildlife conservation that all Americans enjoy.”
With the number of active hunters and recreationalshooters declining over the last 40 years, the passage of this legislation through committee is an important step in the right direction for America’s wildlife and hunting heritage.
Cosponsors of the PR Modernization provision include Doug Jones, D-Ala., Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va., Deb Fischer, R-Neb., Angus King, Jr., I-Maine, and John Boozman, R-Ark.
The provision passed is also included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 being considered by Congress this week. We are grateful to all members involved for their efforts to find a path to get this important provision enacted into law.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
When the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in 1973, there were about 1.3 million wild turkeys in North America. After decades of work, that number hit a historic high of almost 7 million turkeys. To succeed, the NWTF stood behind science-based conservation and hunters’ rights. The NWTF Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative is a charge that mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to conserve enhance more than 4 million acres of essential wildlife habitat, recruit at least 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres for hunting. For more information, visit NWTF.org.
