The Association Applauds the Introduction of Legislation to Modernize the Pittman-Robertson Fund Act

January 31, 2019

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies is excited to see the reintroduction of legislation to modernize the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (HR 877).  This bipartisan legislation clarifies that the Pittman-Robertson(P-R) Fund can be used by state fish and wildlife agencies for outreach, communication, and education of hunters and recreational target shooters, including focused efforts on the recruitment, retention, and reactivation of hunters and recreational shooters through R3 initiatives without increasing taxes or existing user fees. Congressman Austin Scott (R-GA), along with Congressman Marc Veasey (D-TX), Congressman Richard Hudson (R-NC) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI), introduced the legislation yesterday.  

“Updating the P-R Fund would allow flexibility for state fish and wildlife agencies to use their monies for the recruitment of sportsmen and women, thereby ensuring conservation funding in the future,” said Ed Carter, President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Executive Director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. “This bill, if passed, will help ensure that funding for wildlife conservation will keep pace with the demands of our citizens and our communities, while still continuing to meet our traditional wildlife conservation objectives.”

“With a national decline in hunting and participation in sportsmen activities, Pittman-Robertson funds are shrinking and our state and local habitats are suffering. Today, I reintroduced my legislation to give states more flexibility in how they use their PR funds and hopefully attract more Americans to the outdoors in the process,” said Rep. Austin Scott. “I am very pleased with the bipartisan and industry support for this legislation, and I look forward to advancing this legislation with my colleagues until our decades-old wildlife conservation funding receives the critical updates it deserves.”

“We thank Congressman Scott (GA), the bill sponsor and member of the House Agriculture Committee, and the other bill sponsors for introducing the Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow’s Need Act of 2019 and for helping to modernize this cornerstone law of wildlife conservation which has served our nation exceptionally well since 1937,” said Executive Director Ron Regan.


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The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science-based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration to advance favorable fish and wildlife conservation policy and funding and works to ensure that all entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides member agencies with coordination services on cross-cutting as well as species-based programs that range from birds, fish habitat and energy development to climate change, wildlife action plans, conservation education, leadership training and international relations. Working together, the Association’s member agencies are ensuring that North American fish and wildlife management has a clear and collective voice.