Washington, DC – Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-15) voted for the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act (HR 3590) in the House on Wednesday. This legislation combined a number of bills into one package that supports the rights of hunters and fishermen.
“The federal government has a tendency to over-regulate and get into our lives in ways it shouldn’t,” Shimkus said. “This bipartisan bill dealt with traditional sportsmen’s issues and giving people recreational freedom.”
Some of the provisions include:
- reaffirms that fishing, hunting, and shooting are activities that should be allowed to continue or not be blocked on public lands operated by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.
- protects Second Amendment rights on Army Corps of Engineers property.
- reiterates and clarifies existing law to protect lead bullets and tackles from increased costs due to federal regulation for hunters, sports shooters, and fishermen.
- grants Secretary of Interior authority to allow states to issue electronic duck stamps.
- declares recreational hunting and fishing as environmentally acceptable.
“While I am not aware of any specific issues in Illinois, you send me to Washington to protect your rights, and I support keeping publicly owned lands open to use by the people,” Shimkus added.
Groups supporting this legislation included Ducks Unlimited, National Rifle Association, Quail Forever, and Whitetails Unlimited among others.
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