U.S. House of Representatives to Vote on Critical Sportsmen Legislation as Soon as April 17
KeepAmericaFishing 04.15.12
Take action today to urge your Member of Congress to protect recreational fishing’s conservation heritage.
With a critical vote upcoming on a legislative package that will benefit sportsmen across the country, KeepAmericaFishing is urging all anglers to make their voices heard by Congress! As soon as April 17, the U.S. House of Representatives may vote on HR 4089, the Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012, a legislative package addressing two very significant threats to recreational fishing: attempts to nationally ban lead fishing tackle and loss of access to public lands.
The Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012 includes the language from the Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Sports Protection Act, which seeks to prevent a federal ban on lead in recreational fishing tackle and will ensure that any future regulations on fishing tackle are established based on scientific fact instead of unjustified, unsubstantiated petitions. In 2010 and 2012, anglers nationwide defeated anti-fishing efforts to federally ban lead fishing tackle. Despite these monumental wins, attempts to over regulate our sport have not ended, as anti-fishing organizations are currently challenging these wins in court, further demonstrating the need for this legislative solution.
Another major threat to recreational fishing that is addressed in the Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012 is lack of access. In fact, it is one of the primary reasons that keep anglers from enjoying a day on the water. With expanding land development and growing regulations restricting angler access, federally owned lands are more important than ever for recreational fishing opportunity. The Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012 will increase access to angling, hunting and recreational shooting on federal lands by prioritizing these activities within agencies’ land management plans.
The Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012 offers tremendous opportunity to the sporting community and it is critical that sportsmen and women speak up in support prior to the critical vote on April 17. Send a message to your Member of Congress today in support of this important bill – you can’t afford not to. Your members of Congress need to hear from you now so they will understand how important the passage of this bill is to the sportfishing community
KeepAmericaFishing is the fastest growing community of anglers united with one common goal -- to protect our right to sustainably fish on our nation's waterways. As the voice of the American angler, KeepAmericaFishing works to keep our public resources – our oceans, lakes, rivers and streams – open, clean and abundant with fish.
Across the country, preventing or limiting recreational anglers’ access to public waters fisheries is being touted as a new way to manage fish populations. This unprecedented shift undermines the achievements of proven fisheries management methods that focus on conservation and promote sustainable fishing. As a result, the past 10 years have seen a dramatic increase in bans on recreational fishing from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from Texas to Minnesota.
In an effort to combat access restrictions around the country, the American Sportfishing Association launched KeepAmericaFishing to unite the nation’s 60 million anglers under one voice. Through policy, science and conservation, KeepAmericaFishing works to minimize access restrictions, promote clean waters and restore fish populations. With its conservation partners, KeepAmericaFishing works to limit and provide for review and revision science-based closures to areas in which they are clearly beneficial to the health of the fishery.
At KeepAmericaFishing, we are working to give voice to the millions of American recreational anglers who share one thing in common - a passion for fishing.
