Date: 2016-02-25
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman from Virginia for his leadership and for the service that he has given to this Congress. We are so delighted to have him join us. I thank the manager as well. his colleague from Virginia . Madam Chair. in coming from Texas and knowing many of those who seek recreational hunting. fishing. and participation on lands. private and Federal. one wonders whether or not we could have found a way to deal with the concerns of our friends of whom I support: environmental groups and the Humane Society and just a litany of individuals from the Atlantis. the Alaska Wilderness League. the Alliance of the Wild Rockies. the Humane Society International. the Endangered Species Coalition. the Environmental Investigation Agency. the National Audubon Society. the Kentucky Heartwood. and just a whole array of individuals. the names of whom I will offer into the RECORD at another time. [ 1700 This bill comes and specifically interferes with what I believe is the important protection. if you will. of items that impact our wilderness. This bill undermines the NEPA Wilderness Act and the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act to solve a problem that does not exist. It blocks the administrations rule to restrict trade in African elephant ivory and protects African elephants from being slaughtered for their tusks. It adds indiscriminate and inhumane trapping practices to the legal definition of hunting and does not include a longterm reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. a high priority for hunters and anglers. My simple question is: Couldnt we have found some common ground and not be supporting legislation that. for one. my amendment on polar bears will. in fact. impact. that the wealthy trophy hunters who shot bears had full knowledge of the pending rule? This is an issue that occurred when 41 polar bears were killed as the Fish and Wildlife Service finalized a rule listing them as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The polar bears are vulnerable. They are not yet under the Endangered Species Act. but they are vulnerable. So we have individuals who want to take advantage and seek to utilize the loophole. That is my opposition to this legislation. that it does not find a balance. What it does do is it puts our animals in jeopardy. animals that make for the ecosystem in a positive way. So I would ask my colleagues really to go back to the drawing board and come forward with a bill that actually protects animals. allows sport but does not undermine the whole ecosystem. undermine the structure of protecting animals. and certainly. in the memory of Cecilalthough a lioncontinue to kill our vulnerable species of polar bears just to have trophies. I urge opposition to this bill. Mr. Chair. I rise in opposition to H.R. 2406. the Sportsmens Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2015 (SHARE Act). While several of the proposals are noncontroversial. the bill includes provisions that would seriously undermine the Wilderness Act. the National Environmental Policy Act. and the Endangered Species Act. and fails to include important. bipartisan program reauthorizations sought by outdoor enthusiasts. There are many for reasons for opposing this bill but I list just a few: More than 75 percent of all federal lands are already open to recreational hunting. fishing and shooting. making the bulk of this legislation unnecessary. Undermines NEPA. the Wilderness Act. and the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act to solve a problem that does not exist. Blocks efforts to crack down on poachers and protect elephants from being slaughtered for their tusks. Adds indiscriminate and inhumane trapping practices to the legal definition of hunting. Does not include a longterm reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. a high priority program for hunters and anglers. Does not include important. bipartisan program reauthorizations that would provide critical funding for wetlands conservation and expanding hunting and fishing access. programs supported by hunters and anglers. Exempts ammunition and sports fishing equipment from the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) despite the fact that EPA has no plans to regulate this equipment under the Act. Mr. Chair. H.R. 2406 simply patches together a slew of legislative proposals. allegedly to enhance access to federal lands for hunting. fishing and recreational shooting. The bill is opposed by virtually every leading environmental organization and the President has announced that it will be vetoed if presented to him for signature. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting against this unwise and unnecessary legislation.