Copyright 2000 Federal News Service, Inc.
Federal News Service
July 20, 2000, Thursday
SECTION: PREPARED TESTIMONY
LENGTH: 628 words
HEADLINE:
PREPARED TESTIMONY OF FRANK BLAHA FOUNDATION FOR NORTH AMERICAN WILD SHEEP
BEFORE THE HOUSE RESOURCES COMMITTEE FISHERIES,
CONSERVATION, WILDLIFE AND OCEANS SUBCOMMITTEE
SUBJECT - THE
HUNTING HERITAGE PROTECTION ACT, H.R. 4790
BODY:
Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity
to testify before you today in support of the Hunting Heritage Protection Act -
H.R. 4790. My name is Frank Blaha and I am speaking today on behalf of the
Foundation for North American Wild Sheep ("Foundation"). The purpose of the
Foundation is to promote and enhance increasing populations of indigenous wild
sheep on the North American continent, to safeguard against the decline or
extinction of such species, and to fund programs for professional management of
these populations. We are vigorously involved in the conservation, propagation
and intensive management of the remaining wild sheep populations and their
habitats. To achieve our goals, we have always relied on the assistance and
support of the hunting community. Hunters are among this nation's most ardent
conservationists. They are dedicated to conserving our natural resources and
public lands, and to maintaining wildlife habitat on those lands. H.R. 4970 and
its focus on maintaining and securing hunting access to federal public lands is
of particular interest to the Foundation because the majority of North American
wild sheep habitat is on public land. Over the last century, hunters have raised
billions of dollars through excise taxes, licenses, permits, and the like for
wildlife conservation. This money has gone to conserve and protect public lands
used by the hunters themselves, by non-hunters and other recreationists, and
magnificent species such as our wild sheep. This invaluable contribution should
be publicly acknowledged and rewarded.
The Wildlife Legislative Fund of
America approached us last winter, asking for the Foundation's support of a
proposal to President Clinton asking him to sign an executive order that
recognized the importance of hunting in the United States. We immediately
supported WLFA's proposal, as did some 70 other hunting and conservation
organizations. We were, of course, disappointed when the Administration did not
respond to our petition. Therefore, when we learned of the bill introduced by
Representatives Chambliss, Young, Cunningham, and others, we were encouraged to
see Congress stepping in to take action on this important issue. The Hunting
Heritage Protection Act is a bill whose time has come.
The Hunting
Heritage Protection Act takes positive steps towards the goal of finally
acknowledging the role that hunters have played and continue to play in
conserving our country's public lands and native species. The bill also directs
federal agencies to support, promote, and enhance recreational hunting
opportunities on appropriate public lands. This .support is the least the
federal government can do in return for all of the work that hunters have done
to protect the lands they use. Having Congress establish policies of "open until
closed" and "no net loss" regarding hunting is extremely beneficial to wildlife
conservation. Assured access means our hunting heritage can continue and hunters
can continue to provide crucial support to conservation efforts.
Further, the Foundation is persuaded that it is important that the bill
establishes federal recognition of the intrinsic value of hunting as a wildlife
management tool. Hunting is not only a "sport", but is also an important tool
used to control predator species and to keep balance in other
game species. Using hunting as a wildlife management tool is invaluable in
maintaining balance and protecting habitat for all species, game and non-game.
We will continue to work with hunters to conserve and protect North
American wild sheep and their habitat, and, in mm, will do our part to support
hunters and to recognize the continuing importance of the hunting heritage in
this country.
END
LOAD-DATE: July 22, 2000
