House sets up final vote on sportsmen’s rights bill

The House on Tuesday finished work on amendments and set up a final vote on legislation aimed at protecting hunting, fishing and sport shooting on federal lands.

The House quickly considered 10 amendments to the bill — H.R. 3590, the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act — and voice-vote approved most of them.

{mosads}The only two amendments that need a vote on Wednesday are from Democrats. One is from Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) would eliminate language allowing for environmental waivers under the bill, and the other is from Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) to allow the government to ban hunting and fishing if there is an opinion that those activities will threaten federal lands due to climate change.

The rest were either approved by voice vote, or were withdrawn. These amendments were from:

— Doc Hastings (R-Wash.), making technical and clarifying changes to the bill. Approved in a voice vote.

— Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.), requiring a report on the impacts of the bill on hunting, fishing and sport shooting activities. Approved in a voice vote.

— Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), ensuring that women and minority groups are included in a new conservation advisory committee. Approved in a voice vote.

— Pete Gallego (D-Texas), adding veterans service groups as members of the conservation advisory committee. Approved in a voice vote.

— Paul Broun (R-Ga.), including trapping and netting on the list of activities allowed in all land management plans. Withdrawn.

— Jason Smith (R-Mo.), preserving the right to use motorized vessels in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, a national park in Missouri. Approved in voice vote.

— Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), allowing states to determine regular agricultural practices under the bill. Approved in voice vote.

— John Fleming (R-La.), restoring hunting access to the Kisatchie National Forest for deer hunting with dogs. Approved in voice vote.

— Jared Polis (D-Colo.), a sense of the Congress that access to National Forest Lands for snowmobilers should be maintained while a winter travel management rule is being finalized. Approved in a voice vote.