April 30, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 70 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





         TARGET PRACTICE AND MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING SUPPORT ACT

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                               speech of

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 29, 2019

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, as a lifelong hunter and clay shooter at the 
Ettrick and Holmen shooting ranges in Wisconsin, I have enjoyed passing 
on the Wisconsin hunting tradition to my two boys, and I know firsthand 
how important these traditions are for many Wisconsin families. That is 
why I'm concerned about the decline in access to target ranges and gun 
clubs throughout the nation over the last few decades. Target ranges 
promote safe hunting and responsible gun ownership, and they are often 
used to sight in hunting rifles before a hunting season begins.
  I also believe it is important to ensure our federal programs are 
working with hunters and state fish and wildlife agencies to ensure 
that we can preserve local wildlife and their habitats for generations 
to come. However, this goal is threatened by a decline in hunters 
throughout the country--a recent study found that the number of hunters 
had declined approximately 16 percent since 2011. Hunters have 
generated billions of dollars for wildlife restoration and hunter 
safety programs through Pittman-Robertson (PR) funds, which come 
directly from excise taxes on hunting and shooting equipment. With 
fewer hunters, there is less money available for protecting our 
habitats.
  As a long time member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, I am a 
proud champion of legislation that supports sportsmen's issues, and as 
a former member of the House Natural Resources Committee, I have built 
a strong record of voting to protect our natural heritage. This bill 
supports both causes by giving states more flexibility to use their 
allocated PR funds to recruit and retain more hunters and recreational 
shooters through the development and maintenance of public shooting 
ranges. Under current law, there is a 75% percent federal and 25 
percent non-federal cost share for all projects covered under Pittman-
Robertson. This bill would adjust that cost share to allow states to 
use PR dollars to fund as much as 90 percent of the costs of acquiring 
land for, expanding, or constructing a public target range. It also 
allows PR funds to remain available to states for up to five fiscal 
years (compared to two fiscal years under current law) for the use of 
acquiring land for expanding or constructing a public target range.
  I will be pleased to see it pass the House of Representatives 
unanimously. The bill will go to the President's desk, where I am 
confident he will sign it into law.

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