Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow’s Needs Act

Bill: 116-s-2092
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
Introduced: 2019-07-11
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Firearms and explosives

Government studies and investigations

Hunting and fishing

Land use and conservation

Outdoor recreation

Sales and excise taxes

State and local finance

Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Latest action: action_date: 2019-07-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-07-11
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow's Needs Act</b></p> <p>This bill revises provisions of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act relating to the funding of wildlife conservation. Specifically, the bill</p> <ul> <li> adds new definitions, including a definition of<i> hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment</i>;</li> <li> apportions to states revenues from taxes on pistols, revolvers, bows, and arrows at a rate not greater than 3% and not less than 1% of such revenues;</li> <li>removes the existing prohibition on public relations to allow spending by states for management of wildlife areas and promotion of hunting and recreational shooting; </li> <li>allows the use of grant funds for the enhancement of hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment; and </li> <li>expands the Multistate Conservation Grant program by providing $5 million exclusively for making hunter and recreational shooter recruitment project grants that promote a national hunting and shooting sport recruitment program, including related communication and outreach activities. </li> </ul> <p>The Fish and Wildlife Service shall review and evaluate the effects of funds used for hunter and recreational shooter recruitment on funds available for wildlife conservation.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2092 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 11, 2019 Mr. Risch (for himself, Mr. Jones , Mr. Cotton , Mr. Heinrich , Mr. Alexander , Mr. Manchin , Mrs. Fischer , Mr. King , and Mr. Boozman ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to modernize the funding of wildlife conservation, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow’s Needs Act . 2. Purpose The first section of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act ( 16 U.S.C. 669 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: One of the purposes of this Act is to provide financial and technical assistance to the States for the promotion of hunting and recreational shooting. . 3. Definitions Section 2 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act ( 16 U.S.C. 669a ) is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (9) as paragraphs (4) through (11), respectively; and (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: (2) for the purposes of determining the number of paid hunting-license holders in a State, the term fiscal year means the fiscal year or license year of the State; (3) the term hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment means any activity or project to recruit or retain hunters and recreational shooters, including by— (A) outreach and communications as a means— (i) to improve communications with hunters, recreational shooters, and the general public with respect to hunting and recreational shooting opportunities; (ii) to reduce barriers to participation in these activities; (iii) to advance the adoption of sound hunting and recreational shooting practices; (iv) to promote conservation and the responsible use of the wildlife resources of the United States; and (v) to further safety in hunting and recreational shooting; (B) providing education, mentoring, and field demonstrations; (C) enhancing access for hunting and recreational shooting, including through range construction; and (D) providing education to the public about the role of hunting and recreational shooting in funding wildlife conservation; . 4. Apportionment of available amounts (a) Apportionment of certain taxes The first subsection (c) of section 4 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act ( 16 U.S.C. 669c ) is amended— (1) by inserting Apportionment of revenues from pistols, revolvers, bows, and arrows .— after the enumerator; (2) by striking One-half and inserting the following: (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), ½ ; (3) by striking : Provided , That and inserting a period; (4) by striking each State shall be apportioned not more than 3 per centum and not less than 1 per centum of such revenues and inserting the following: (2) Condition The amount apportioned to each State under paragraph (1) shall be not greater than 3 percent and not less than 1 percent of the revenues described in that paragraph ; (5) in paragraph (2) (as so designated), by striking one-sixth of 1 per centum of such revenues and inserting 1/6 of 1 percent of those revenues ; (6) by striking For the purpose and inserting the following: (3) Population determination For the purpose ; and (7) by adding at the end the following: (4) Use of funds In addition to other uses authorized under this Act, amounts apportioned under this subsection may be used for hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment. . (b) Technical correction Section 4 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act ( 16 U.S.C. 669c ) is amended by redesignating the second subsection (c) and subsection (d) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively. 5. Expenditures for management of wildlife areas and resources Section 8 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act ( 16 U.S.C. 669g ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), in the third sentence, by striking and public relations ; and (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking , as a part of such program . 6. Firearm and bow hunter education and safety program grants Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act ( 16 U.S.C. 669h–1(a)(1)(A) ) is amended— (1) in clause (iii), by striking and at the end; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (v) the enhancement of hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment; and . 7. Multistate conservation grant program (a) In general Section 11 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act ( 16 U.S.C. 669h–2 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(1)— (A) by striking Not more than and inserting the following: (A) In general Not more than ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (B) Availability for hunter and recreational shooter grants Not more than $5,000,000 of the revenues covered into the fund from any tax imposed under section 4161(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for a fiscal year shall be available to the Secretary exclusively for making hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment grants that promote a national hunting and shooting sport recruitment program, including related communication and outreach activities. ; (2) in subsection (b)(3), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking International ; (3) in subsection (c)(2)(A)— (A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking International ; and (B) in clause (i), by inserting or to recreational shooting activities after wildlife ; and (4) in subsection (d), by inserting or to recreational shooting activities after wildlife . (b) Study Not later than 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, shall— (1) review and evaluate the effects of the funds made available under subparagraph (B) of section 11(a)(1) of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act ( 16 U.S.C. 669h–2(a)(1) ) on funds available for wildlife conservation; and (2) submit a report describing the results of the review and evaluation under paragraph (1) to— (A) the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.