Commentary: Congressman Steve Pearce issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 2406, the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act (SHARE) Act:
“Outdoor sporting contributed over $90 billion to the U.S. economy in 2011. In addition to supporting New Mexican jobs, sporting also supports New Mexican hobbies. Just recently, my granddaughter told me she would like to get her hunting license. She spent almost six hours taking the tests and is now licensed.
“Most of New Mexico’s outdoor ventures, including hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting occur on our federal lands. Unfortunately, access to certain federal lands for these activities is restricted. This bill increases access by creating ‘hunting access corridors’ on federal lands that would be open during hunting seasons. It also encourages collaboration between state and local governments to maintain recreational shooting ranges and safeguards against new regulations that would get in the way of outdoor sporting activities. H.R. 2406 will ensure that future generations have ample access to federal lands to hunt, fish, and shoot,” said Congressman Steve Pearce.
This bipartisan bill is comprised of thirteen provisions that increase opportunities for hunters, anglers, and shooters. It eliminates red tape and safeguards against new regulations impeding outdoor sporting activities.