The Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act of 2013 (H.R. 3197), a comprehensive series of measures to enhance outdoor recreation, was introduced in the House. It became available online on Thursday, Oct. 3.
Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) introduced the measure with four cosponsors. He worked on it with the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus. You can read it at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c113:H.R.3197:http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c113:H.R.3197:. Find Latta's statement on it at http://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=351486.
The bill contains a number of measures that failed to clear Congress before. It would:
- Remove the ban on certain types of fishing tackle.
- Allow states to build and expand rifle and archery target practice ranges using 90 percent federal funding under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, up from the current 75 percent requirement. The bill also states that the federal government could not get sued for injury occurring on a federally-funded range.
- Allow all states to participate in the electronic Duck Stamp program.
- Establish a Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee to advise the federal government on hunting, managing species, restoring wetlands, recruiting new hunters and shooters and promote hunting and fishing.
- Require federal recreational land managers to consider hunting, fishing ans shooting in their plans. It would not open up land to these activities where they are currently barred by other law or would impinge on public safety.
The bill has a long way to go before becoming law. It was referred to five House committees: Natural Resources, Energy & Commerce, Judiciary, Agriculture, and Transportation & Infrastructure.
