Press Releases

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives voted 242-161 today in support of bipartisan legislation to promote sportsmen-led conservation of natural resources and habitats through expansion of access to federal lands for hunters and anglers. Introduced by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Co-Chair Rob Wittman (R-VA) with original cosponsors CSC Co-Chair Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN) and Vice-Chairs Congressmen Jeff Duncan (R-SC) and Gene Green (D-TX), the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act of 2016 (H.R. 2406) protects Second Amendment rights and enhances opportunities for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation.

“The SHARE Act recognizes how critical sportsmen-led conservation is to preserving our sporting heritage and removes roadblocks that would prevent access to federal lands for hunters and anglers.” Wittman said. “This bipartisan package contains provisions that help to preserve our wildlife and natural resources and promote the long-held values and traditions that are dear to sportsmen and -women. Hunters and anglers were among the first to recognize how central conservation is to preserving our federal lands in public trust, and as an outdoorsman myself, I’m proud to support those efforts. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus to advance the priorities of outdoor recreationalists.”

The SHARE Act includes a number of important provisions, including the Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage Opportunities Act; the Hunting, Fishing, and Recreational Shooting Protection Act; Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act; the Farmer and Hunter Protection Act; the permanent creation of the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee; and the Preserving Public Access to Public Water Act, among others. The legislation has garnered support from more than 50 conservation groups across the U.S.

Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he is Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee.

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