Bipartisan package of conservation provisions heads to the House of Representatives
Alexandria, VA – September 17, 2020 – Late yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed by unanimous consent S. 3051, America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act. This major package of natural resource management and conservation provisions now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives, where a vote is expected as soon as next week.
“The ACE Act would be a massive win for outdoor enthusiasts throughout the country,” said Mike Leonard, vice president of Government Affairs at the American Sportfishing Association (ASA). “Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) are to be commended for their tireless work to lead this bill through the Senate.”
Of particular importance to the sportfishing industry, the ACE Act:
- Authorizes the National Fish Habitat Partnership, which brings together local, state and federal partners to coordinate and conduct on-the-ground aquatic habitat restoration projects for the benefit of recreational fishing;
- Protects lead fishing tackle from unwarranted EPA regulation for the next five years; and
- Reauthorizes and boosts funding for programs critical to the health of the Chesapeake Bay, the nation’s largest estuary and a critical nursery for sportfish throughout the Atlantic region.
The ACE Act previously passed the Senate in January, but negotiations with the House resulted in minor changes to the bill, requiring a vote on the updated version.
“We are optimistic that the current version of the ACE Act will be favorably considered by the House, but it’s important that anglers do their part to support this bill’s passage,” said Leonard. “There’s not much time left in the legislative calendar to get this done. Please go to Keep America Fishing and urge your Representative to vote yes on this critically important bill.”
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade association committed to representing the interests of the sportfishing and boating industries as well as the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry and anglers a unified voice when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. ASA invests in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous, as well as safeguard and promote the enduring economic, conservation and social values of sportfishing in America. ASA also gives America’s 49 million anglers a voice in policy decisions that affect their ability to sustainably fish on our nation’s waterways through Keep America Fishing, our national angler advocacy campaign. America’s anglers generate nearly $50 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for 800,000 people.
