During a House Natural Resources Committee markup meeting before the Congressional recess, Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) spoke about the banning of lead ammunition for hunting.
00:00I recognize myself. Again, livestock producers need urgent relief from costly and dangerous
00:08black vulture attacks. This amendment simply delays that critical relief. H.R. 2462 provides
00:16livestock producers with the ability to take vultures where and when it makes sense. Now,
00:22in regards to the existing permit program that allows a farmer or rancher to take 10 black
00:29vultures per year, that is simply not enough. I think a lot of these farmers are not even
00:37bothering with getting the permits, especially when large flocks of 40 to 50 birds regularly
00:42descend on a helpless calf. The simple math shows us that having a yearly maximum take
00:50of 10 is not enough. It's more common sense to allow the farmers to protect their livestock.
00:57The legislation requires that they report their take at the end of the year. This is something
01:03that can be monitored and that can give farmers relief and also will help us to manage this
01:11massive population of black vultures that are doing considerable damage to livestock across
01:18the country. I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment and I yield back. Is there further
01:23discussion on the amendment? There's no further discussion on the amendment. The question is
01:28on the amendment offered by ranking member Huffman, designated Huffman number one. All those
01:33in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed, no. No. In opinion of the chair,
01:39the noes have it. A recorded vote has been requested. Further proceedings on the amendment will be postponed.
01:45Pursuant to the markup notice is now in order to consider H.R. 556, Protecting Access for Hunters
01:52and Anglers Act of 2025. Without objection, the bill will be considered as read and open
01:58to amendment at any point. Does any member wish to be recognized for purpose of debate on the
02:02bill? I recognize myself for five minutes. H.R. 556, sponsored by my colleague Congressman Whitman
02:13of Virginia is a common sense bill that protects the ability of hunters and anglers to continue
02:18to use cost effective lead ammunition and fishing equipment on our nation's public lands.
02:24At the same time, this legislation gives federal land management agencies the flexibility to make
02:29targeted prohibitions on lead usage based on sound science and in coordination with state fish and
02:36wildlife agencies. In the United States, sportsmen and women's participation is crucial to the success of
02:43wildlife conservation. The North American model of wildlife conservation is based on seven
02:49interconnected principles. These include sound science, active management and access to hunting
02:55and fishing. This model is a success story demonstrated by the millions of dollars paid by
03:00hunters and anglers for wildlife conservation each year through fees and excise taxes on hunting and
03:07fishing gear and related purchases. In fiscal year 2025, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service allocated nearly
03:14one billion dollars in receipts from excise taxes on firearms manufacturers. Of that amount, 750 million
03:21was designated for wildlife restoration. Similarly, 416 million for fish conservation was generated from
03:29excise taxes on fishing equipment. In 2023, after significant pushback from stakeholders and members of
03:35Congress, the service denied a petition from environmental groups to ban the use of lead ammunition and tackle
03:43throughout the refuge system. Notice I didn't say radical environmental groups, Mr. Huffman.
03:47Great restraint. They were far left in environmental groups, not radical. Maybe a little radical.
03:53However, under the Biden administration, the service still pressed ahead with banning the use of lead
03:58ammunition and tackle in eight refugees. The question facing the committee today is about access.
04:04Simply put, banning lead ammunition and tackle limits access for sportsmen and women. In 2021, the National
04:11Shooting Sports Foundation concluded that lead-free hunting ammunition is on average about 25% more
04:17expensive than similar lead products. The result of a lead ban will be a decrease in hunting and fishing
04:23participation and a reduction in wildlife conservation and restoration funding. Instead of regulating hunters
04:29and anglers off our federal lands, the federal government should be working with state managers, conservation
04:34organization, and sportsmen and women. Where lead is conclusively shown to harm wildlife, it should be
04:40addressed accordingly, but any far-reaching ban or refuge by refuge ban where no scientific link can be made
04:47is a wrong approach and ultimately undermines wildlife conservation. I urge my colleagues to support the bill and I yield back the balance of my time.
