04-08-2011, 11:10 AM
Washington, DC - Thirteen members of the bipartisan Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus (CSC) and dozens of staff liaisons from CSC member offices joined the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF) and the Angling and Boating Alliance Tuesday for a breakfast briefing on reauthorization of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund as part of the Surface Transportation Bill.
At yesterday's briefing in the Rayburn House Office Building, members of the Angling and Boating Alliance discussed the threats to and the importance of ensuring the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund continued vitality and success as a "user pay, user benefits" program.
"Anglers and the industries that serve them contribute millions of dollars to their respective state economies and contribute millions of conservation dollars to the states and it important that we keep this vital funding intact for future generations," said Rep. Jeff Miller of Florida, U.S. House Co-Chair of the CSC.
The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund serves as the backbone for conservation funding in the United States-a uniquely American System of Conservation Funding-and is a critical funding pool for a diverse set of important state and national recreational fishing and boating programs including: recreational boating safety, fisheries management, habitat conservation, vessel pump-out stations, water and boating access infrastructure programs, aquatic resource education programs, and angler and boater outreach.
"The administration supports reauthorization and we will work with members of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus to get this done," said Dan Ashe, Deputy Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and nominee for Director. "This is one of the preeminent programs operated by USFWS and the backbone of aquatic resource management as part of a collaborative effort between the federal government and the states."
CSF is a member organization of the Angling and Boating Alliance, which includes the American Recreation Coalition (ARC); American Sportfishing Association (ASA); Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (AFWA); Association of Marina Industries (AMI); B.A.S.S.; Boat Owners Association of the United States (Boat U.S.); Coastal Conservation Association (CCA); Marine Retailers Association of America (MRAA); National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA); National Boating Federation (NBF); National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA); and Trout Unlimited (TU), and is committed to the sustainable future of the Sportfish Restoration & Boating Trust Fund.
Media Contact
Lance Lemmonds - 202-543-6850 ex19
At yesterday's briefing in the Rayburn House Office Building, members of the Angling and Boating Alliance discussed the threats to and the importance of ensuring the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund continued vitality and success as a "user pay, user benefits" program.
"Anglers and the industries that serve them contribute millions of dollars to their respective state economies and contribute millions of conservation dollars to the states and it important that we keep this vital funding intact for future generations," said Rep. Jeff Miller of Florida, U.S. House Co-Chair of the CSC.
The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund serves as the backbone for conservation funding in the United States-a uniquely American System of Conservation Funding-and is a critical funding pool for a diverse set of important state and national recreational fishing and boating programs including: recreational boating safety, fisheries management, habitat conservation, vessel pump-out stations, water and boating access infrastructure programs, aquatic resource education programs, and angler and boater outreach.
"The administration supports reauthorization and we will work with members of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus to get this done," said Dan Ashe, Deputy Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and nominee for Director. "This is one of the preeminent programs operated by USFWS and the backbone of aquatic resource management as part of a collaborative effort between the federal government and the states."
CSF is a member organization of the Angling and Boating Alliance, which includes the American Recreation Coalition (ARC); American Sportfishing Association (ASA); Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (AFWA); Association of Marina Industries (AMI); B.A.S.S.; Boat Owners Association of the United States (Boat U.S.); Coastal Conservation Association (CCA); Marine Retailers Association of America (MRAA); National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA); National Boating Federation (NBF); National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA); and Trout Unlimited (TU), and is committed to the sustainable future of the Sportfish Restoration & Boating Trust Fund.
Media Contact
Lance Lemmonds - 202-543-6850 ex19