Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Cramer (R-ND) joined Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) in introducing the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act to prohibit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from banning the use of traditional lead ammunition or tackle on public lands, unless such action is supported by the best available science and state wildlife and fish agencies.
“North Dakota’s sportsmen provide a public service by helping manage wildlife populations. The administration’s onerous rule would only make it more difficult and expensive for them to do so on public lands,” said Senator Cramer. “Our bill prevents multiple federal agencies from moving forward with this frivolous rule restricting hunters’ and anglers’ use of ammo and tackle.”
The FWS last year entered into settlement negotiations with activist organizations over a lawsuit regarding the use of traditional lead ammunition on over 3 million acres of federal land. Senators Cramer and Daines sent a letter urging FWS Director Martha Williams not to cave into activists’ calls to restrict the use of lead ammo and tackle on public lands.
Joining Senators Cramer and Daines are Senators John Boozman (R-AR.), Mike Braun (R-IN), Roger Wicker (R-MS), James Risch (R-ID), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Rick Scott (R-FL), John Barrasso (R-WY), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), John Hoeven (R-ND), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Tom Cotton (R-AR), John Thune (R-SD), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).
Click here for bill text.