Chairman Westerman Testifies on H.R. 556 the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act

Thank you, Chairwoman Fox, for this opportunity to testify today on some very important legislation as chairman of the Natural Resources Committee and as co-chair of the Congressional Sportsman's Caucus, which I believe is still the largest caucus in Congress. I have time and again stood up in Congress for the rights of hunters and anglers. HR 556, sponsored by Natural Resources Committee Vice Chairman Rob Whitman, is critical to ensuring those rights are protected well into the future. Simply put, HR 556 would ensure that any ban on using lead ammunition and fishing tackle on federal land is based on site-specific data and coordinated with state game and fish agencies. This guarantees that any ban is based on sound science and works with the agencies responsible for regulating hunting and fishing within their state borders. Providing these safeguards is vital as alternatives to lead ammunition and fishing tackle can often be very expensive, with some options costing as much as 10 times more than similar lead products. Passage of this bill pairs well with recent actions by the Trump administration that fundamentally changed the federal government's approach towards opening federal lands to hunting and fishing. In January of this year, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum signed Secretarial Order 3447, which directed Interior's offices and bureaus to open lands to hunting and fishing unless existing authorities and unit purposes require an area to be closed to those activities. It also includes language requiring that any ban on the use of lead ammunition or fishing tackle be backed by site-specific science. This order sets the stage for opening thousands of acres of federal lands to responsible hunting and fishing, which is a win not only for sportsmen and women, but also for wildlife. Hunting and fishing participation generates over a billion dollars a year in excise taxes paid by firearm and fishing equipment manufacturers. These amounts are only likely to increase under the Trump administration, which is opening more federal lands to hunting and fishing. Alternatively, any ideological and unscientific restrictions on the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle put those dollars at risk. Instead of regulating hunters and anglers out of our federal lands, we should continue to work with state managers, conservation organizations, and sportsmen and women. When lead is shown to cause harm to wildlife, it will be addressed accordingly. But wide-reaching bans or even unit-specific bans where no scientific link can be made are the wrong approach and ultimately undermine wildlife conservation. I urge the committee to report an appropriate rule so this bill can be considered in the House. Thank you, and I yield back.