Over 20 Years of Legislative Advances for Sportsmen

1991- Restoring Wetlands

An amendment to the Sport Fish Restoration Act created the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act, which collects taxes from small engine fuel revenues to fund projects to restore and enhance wetlands and their habitats.

Result
• $220 million in funding since inception.
• 258,000 acres of wetlands habitat have been protected, restored or enhanced.

1992 - Mason Neck Wildlife Refuge Vote

Although CSC and CSF were active on many issues in the early years, the first test of the effectiveness occurred in a classic showdown between sportsmen and the animal rights philosophy via an attempt to block a white-tail deer hunt on the Mason Neck Wildlife Refuge, a site overrun with deer, located just 18 miles from the Capitol.
At the behest of animal rights groups, a provision to stop the hunt was included in the Interior Appropriations Bill. Lead by the CSC and the CSF, an amendment to support the hunt passed by a bipartisan vote. With this resounding win, CSC and CSF earned their stripes and demonstrated that sportsmen could effectively unite on conservation issues.  

1994 - Gun Act Defeated

Defeated the Firearm Victims Prevention Act,
which would have diverted more than $60 million
from the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Trust
Fund to a newly-created Health Care Trust Fund,
thereby robbing state fish and game agencies of
wildlife management funds. 

1996 - Magnuson-Stevens Sustainable Fisheries Act

 The key federal law governing marine fisheries management
underwent a major revamping resulting in substantial changes
with the goal of conserving fish stocks and restoring overfished
populations, with provisions instructing fishery managers to
adhere strictly to scientific advice so as not to deplete the ocean. 

1997 - Refuge Priorites Reformed

Hunting and fishing are designated as a priority under the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, the first major reform legislation for the refuge system in 30 years.

Result
• 317 units in the National Wildlife Refuge System are open to hunting.
• 270 units in the National Wildlife Refuge System offer access to fishing.

"We cannot overlook the fact that hunters and anglers have contributed more than two-thirds of the funds used to buy lands and waters for our nearly 100 million acre refuge system."
CSC Co-Chair, John Tanner (D-TN)

1998 - Access Enabled

The Disabled Sportsmen's Access Act passes, making it easier for disabled sportsmen to hunt on Department of Defense lands, allowing DOD to accept donations and volunteers to implement projects to increase access.

Result
• More than 25 million acres of DOD lands are open to the public for hunting.

1999 - Reel Participation

The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation established under the Sport Fishing and Boating Safety Act, was created to implement an outreach strategy to increase participation in recreational fishing and boating and thereby increase public appreciation of the need for protecting, conserving and restoring our nation's aquatic natural resources.

Result
• 596,589 newcomers and youth introduced to boating and fishing.
• 455,366 fishing licenses purchased.
• $6.83 million generated for state conservation efforts.
• $23.8 million generated for boating and fishing industires.