Sportsman’s Act Must Wait Until 2017

The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s Government Relations Update contained some discouraging news. The Bipartisan Sportsman’s Act has been stranded as Congress did not pass the Energy Conference Report. The bill had been made a part of the omnibus bill.

Given the funding for range development included in the bill, all I can say is damn!

From NSSF:

Congress Strands Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act in Unpassed Energy Conference Report

The 114th Congress is set to adjourn without having passed the Energy Conference Report that contained the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act. In the end, Congressional leadership didn’t feel important components of energy policy were in place in the legislative package and the measure languished in the conference committee as both sides of Capitol Hill focused on the continuing resolution needed to fun the federal government through April 28, 2017.
NSSF would like to thank U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) for their stewardship of the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act in their respective chambers. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) also deserves acknowledgement for her work on crafting a bipartisan bill. We would also like to express our thanks and appreciation for the thousands of American hunters, target shooters and gun owners who stood up for their traditions and contacted their senators and representatives during the sustained effort to pass this legislation during the 114th Congress. NSSF will be communicating about legislative priorities for the new Congress in January.

Action Alert From NSSF

The National Shooting Sports Foundation released an action alert at the end of last week. The Bipartisan Sportsman’s Act which is part of an energy bill that needs to be passed will come up for discussion this week. Even if you don’t hunt or fish the bill includes an item that should appeal to all shooters:  a provision for shooting range development.

From NSSF:


Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act
Your Immediate Action is Needed

The most important legislation in a generation for America’s hunters and target shooters is at a crucial stage. Senators and members of the US House of Representatives have just days to complete negotiations on the Energy Policy Modernization Act conference report that includes the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act.

Call Your U.S. Representative and both US Senators and politely insist that Congress act on the Energy Conference report that contains the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act. Please CALL TODAY before Congress takes up the Continuing Resolution next week to fund the federal government past Dec. 9.

We do NOT want Congress to punt the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act into the next congress that begins in January. We have come too far to go back to “square one” and begin again.

Please call today to help protect and preserve our cherished outdoor traditions.

House Switchboard: 202-224-3121

Look up your U.S. Representative: http://nssf.it/CongLookup