Legislation approved Tuesday in the U.S. House will ensure that Minnesota hunters and anglers have access to certain public lands, according to U.S. Representative Chip Cravaack.
Cravaack voted in favor of H.R. 4089, Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012, which passed the House by a vote of 274-146.
“Outdoor recreation is synonymous with the 8th District, where hunting and fishing is a way of life,” said Cravaack, D-Minn., in a statement. “This important legislation passed by the House will remove government roadblocks to these activities and ensure unnecessary red tape does not interfere with the traditional outdoor recreations enjoyed by so many Minnesota sportsmen.”
Cravaack said the bill will guard against new regulations that threaten to block or limit access to hunting and fishing.
“The bill will protect American jobs and economic growth by supporting recreational opportunities on these federal lands and also reaffirms existing law barring the Environmental Protection Agency from banning certain types of ammunition and fishing tackle, which will protect against lawsuits and bureaucratic maneuvers aimed at undermining current law,” according to Cravaack.
H.R. 4089 saw widespread support from dozens of the leading national hunting, shooting and fishing organizations, including the National Rifle Association, Safari Club International, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, and the Wildlife Management Institute, according to Cravaack’s statement.
Cravaack serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, of which he serves as vice chair of the Aviation Subcommittee. He also serves on the Homeland Security Committee, and the Science, Space and Technology Committee. The 8th District covers 18 counties in northeast Minnesota.
