April 29, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 69 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session
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TARGET PRACTICE AND MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING SUPPORT ACT; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 69
(House of Representatives - April 29, 2019)
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[Pages H3288-H3290] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] TARGET PRACTICE AND MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING SUPPORT ACT Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1222) to amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to facilitate the establishment of additional or expanded public target ranges in certain States. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1222 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE. (a) Findings.--Congress finds that-- (1) the use of firearms and archery equipment for target practice and marksmanship training activities on Federal land is allowed, except to the extent specific portions of that land have been closed to those activities; (2) in recent years preceding the date of enactment of this Act, portions of Federal land have been closed to target practice and marksmanship training for many reasons; (3) the availability of public target ranges on non-Federal land has been declining for a variety of reasons, including continued population growth and development near former ranges; (4) providing opportunities for target practice and marksmanship training at public target ranges on Federal and non-Federal land can help-- (A) to promote enjoyment of shooting, recreational, and hunting activities; and (B) to ensure safe and convenient locations for those activities; (5) Federal law in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, including the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669 et seq.), provides Federal support for construction and expansion of public target ranges by making available to States amounts that may be used for construction, operation, and maintenance of public target ranges; and (6) it is in the public interest to provide increased Federal support to facilitate the construction or expansion of public target ranges. (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to facilitate the construction and expansion of public target ranges, including ranges on Federal land managed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF PUBLIC TARGET RANGE. In this Act, the term ``public target range'' means a specific location that-- (1) is identified by a governmental agency for recreational shooting; (2) is open to the public; (3) may be supervised; and (4) may accommodate archery or rifle, pistol, or shotgun shooting. SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO PITTMAN-ROBERTSON WILDLIFE RESTORATION ACT. (a) Definitions.--Section 2 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669a) is amended-- (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (8) as paragraphs (3) through (9), respectively; and (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: ``(2) the term `public target range' means a specific location that-- ``(A) is identified by a governmental agency for recreational shooting; ``(B) is open to the public; ``(C) may be supervised; and ``(D) may accommodate archery or rifle, pistol, or shotgun shooting;''. (b) Expenditures for Management of Wildlife Areas and Resources.--Section [[Page H3289]] 8(b) of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669g(b)) is amended-- (1) by striking ``(b) Each State'' and inserting the following: ``(b) Expenditures for Management of Wildlife Areas and Resources.-- ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), each State''; (2) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by striking ``construction, operation,'' and inserting ``operation''; (3) in the second sentence, by striking ``The non-Federal share'' and inserting the following: ``(3) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share''; (4) in the third sentence, by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the following: ``(4) Regulations.--The Secretary''; and (5) by inserting after paragraph (1) (as designated by paragraph (1) of this subsection) the following: ``(2) Exception.--Notwithstanding the limitation described in paragraph (1), a State may pay up to 90 percent of the cost of acquiring land for, expanding, or constructing a public target range.''. (c) Firearm and Bow Hunter Education and Safety Program Grants.--Section 10 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669h-1) is amended-- (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following: ``(3) Allocation of additional amounts.--Of the amount apportioned to a State for any fiscal year under section 4(b), the State may elect to allocate not more than 10 percent, to be combined with the amount apportioned to the State under paragraph (1) for that fiscal year, for acquiring land for, expanding, or constructing a public target range.''; (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following: ``(b) Cost Sharing.-- ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Federal share of the cost of any activity carried out using a grant under this section shall not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of the activity. ``(2) Public target range construction or expansion.--The Federal share of the cost of acquiring land for, expanding, or constructing a public target range in a State on Federal or non-Federal land pursuant to this section or section 8(b) shall not exceed 90 percent of the cost of the activity.''; and (3) in subsection (c)(1)-- (A) by striking ``Amounts made'' and inserting the following: ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), amounts made''; and (B) by adding at the end the following: ``(B) Exception.--Amounts provided for acquiring land for, constructing, or expanding a public target range shall remain available for expenditure and obligation during the 5-fiscal- year period beginning on October 1 of the first fiscal year for which the amounts are made available.''. SEC. 5. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING COOPERATION. It is the sense of Congress that, consistent with applicable laws and regulations, the Chief of the Forest Service and the Director of the Bureau of Land Management should cooperate with State and local authorities and other entities to carry out waste removal and other activities on any Federal land used as a public target range to encourage continued use of that land for target practice or marksmanship training. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Van Drew) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey. General Leave Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New Jersey? There was no objection. Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to authorize a State to pay up to 90 percent of the costs of acquiring land for constructing a public target range. Under the current law, the State is authorized to pay up to only 75 percent of the cost. This bill also allows the State to allocate 10 percent of its Federal wildlife restoration funding to building public target ranges. This bill was part of the negotiated historic lands package that was signed into law in March of this year, but this specific section had to be pulled from the final package because language in the bill is required to originate in the House. I would like to commend Congressman Kind for his continued support of sportsmen and sportswomen and his work to send this last piece of the negotiated package to the Senate. This is, again, a good opportunity to celebrate the rightfully named lands package, the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, which was a product of many months of negotiations and many years of committee process. The lands package benefits all Americans by protecting ecosystems, preserving our cultural heritage, and connecting people to their lands. By protecting ecosystems, preserving our cultural heritage, and connecting people to their lands, we demonstrate this Congress' commitment to public lands that serve all Americans. Not only did the package permanently authorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund, but it also added over 1 million acres of wilderness, designated four new national monuments, and expanded three national parks, just to name a few of the over 100 provisions. H.R. 1222 is simply the last to get over the finish line, and I am proud to support it. I urge my colleagues to continue to support the lands package and support this bipartisan bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Conress of the United States, House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC, April 29, 2019. Hon. Raul M. Grijalva, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Grijalva: I am writing with respect to H.R. 1222, ``Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act.'' As a result of your having consulted with us on provisions on which the Committee on Ways and Means has jurisdictional interest, I will not request sequential referral on this measure. The Committee on Ways and Means takes this action with the mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and the Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues within our jurisdiction. The Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation, and request your support for such a request. Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding, and would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of H.R. 1222. Sincerely, Richard E. Neal, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, April 29, 2019. Hon. Richard E. Neal, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for consulting with the Natural Resources Committee on H.R. 1222, ``Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act'' and agreeing to forgo a sequential referral request so that the bill may proceed expeditiously to the House floor. I agree that your declining to pursue a referral in this case does not diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means nor prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives on this bill or similar legislation in the future. I would support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees from your Committee over any parts of this bill or similar legislation under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means to any House- Senate conference. I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of bill. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this bill and look forward to continuing to work with you as this measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Raul M. Grijalva, Chairman, House Natural Resources Committee. Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am here to support H.R. 1222, and I am very pleased that Congressman Kind and Congressman Hunter were able to introduce this and for their part in this particular statement. As was said by the gentleman from New Jersey, this has been before this House before. We have passed it in committee before and in the House before, and it was part of the original package, the land package that went through earlier this year. Unfortunately, because of a technicality in the slowdown that we had in having to reintroduce the bill as a Senate bill, this must come through as a House bill. [[Page H3290]] However, I am pleased to report that all the concerns people had have been resolved at this point. The Senate has already deemed this bill to have passed once the House acts on it. So, with our passage today, I think this bill is going fast into becoming an actual piece of legislation. I want to thank Representative Grijalva and his staff. Mr. Grijalva is not here today. The gentleman from New Jersey is in his place, and a much better dresser, I might add, and I thank him. I thank them for their efforts to continue on with this program that was part of the original package. We had hiccups that we had to solve in some particular way, so Mr. Grijalva and his staff worked very hard on this particular piece of legislation. This is something that has been long sought by the sports community. The Pittman-Robertson fund, which is a great fund that relies on excise taxes paid on purchases that are made by hunters and fishers and recreational shooters, that goes into this fund, which has been around for almost 80 years and has already contributed about $10 billion. It has been important to start hunter education programs. It has been important also for the construction and the maintenance of our public shooting ranges. The long-term viability is significant. As this Nation becomes more urbanized, the ability of people having a safe place where they can go, and they can do practice, target practice, it becomes even more significant that these ranges have to be maintained. These ranges have to be improved in some particular way. What this bill does is the perfect solution. It takes this fund of money, but then allows the States to have greater flexibility of how it is going to be administered. By allowing them to even match with just 10 percent, it gives the States the ability to move forward and to use the Pittman-Robertson fund for 5 years to fund shooting ranges and expand existing shooting ranges. It empowers States--that is what we should be doing more--but it empowers States that will actually now encourage responsible hunting, responsible recreational shooting, as well as ensuring the wildlife conservation system, which is, once again, a responsibility of States. What we are doing here is, I think, taking the right approach with a fund that already exists, giving States flexibility, and encouraging the sporting community. That is why the sportsmen of our country have long sought for this particular provision. They look at this as a major and important win. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Van Drew) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1222. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________
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