Yesterday, the House Committee on Natural Resources passed several lands bills including H.R. 3400, the bipartisan, bicameral Recreation Not Red-Tape Act or RNR Act (Chairman Rob Bishop, R-Utah and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.) and H.R. 788, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act (Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif.) by voice vote.

H.R. 3400 promotes increased access to outdoor recreation opportunities on federal lands and boosts rural economies across the country.

“The outdoor industry supports more than 7.6 million American jobs and makes other significant contributions toward the goal of healthy communities and healthy economies across the United States. On behalf of our member businesses, we thank you and the committee for holding this important hearing on the Recreation Not Red-Tape (RNR) Act.” -  Jessica Wahl, Government Affairs Manager, Outdoor Industry Association.

“On behalf of America Outdoor Association, I am writing to express my support for H.R. 3400, the Recreation Not Red Tape Act. We very much appreciate your support for increasing access to outdoor recreation on federally managed lands and especially appreciate your inclusion of much of the GO Act in H.R. 3400.” - David Brown, Vice President for Government Affairs, America Outdoor Association.

“Veterans Corps offer a transition to civilian life and in-demand job skills. Serving in a Corps can provide a continued sense of mission and purpose and also be a way for veterans and their families to engage more with the outdoors. This is why we encourage inclusion in HR 3400 of another way to expand the opportunity for veterans to serve, gain in-demand skills, and address high-priority projects through the bipartisan 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Act (HR 2987). This legislation was introduced by a veteran and recently passed the committee.” - Mary Ellen Sprenkel, President & CEO, The Corps Network.

“On behalf of the Pew Charitable Trusts’ Restore America’s Parks campaign, I urge your support of key provisions of the Recreation Not Red-Tape Act (H.R. 3400), legislation being heard before the Subcommittee on Federal Lands this week. The Restore America’s Parks program seeks to conserve the natural and cultural assets of our national parks by providing common sense, long-term solutions to the $11. 3 billion deferred maintenance backlog facing the National Park Service (NPS).” - Marcia August, Director, Restore America’s Parks, The Pew Charitable Trusts.

H.R. 788 amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to give states more flexibility to create, maintain and expand shooting ranges on public lands.

“This is an important step forward for all sportsmen, target shooters and firearms owners, as well as for future generations of participants who will need public facilities to enjoy the shooting sports. Firearms owners and hunters rank access to available ranges as one of the greatest obstacles to participation and growth in our traditions. Access to these facilities is paramount to continuing to pass on our hunting and shooting sports heritage to younger generations.” Lawrence Keane, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, National Shooting Sports Foundation 

“I am writing in support of the bipartisan Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act (the “TPMTSA”), S. 593 in the Senate and H.R. 788 in the House.  Enactment of TPMTSA will help facilitate increased opportunities for responsible recreation something our organization strives to achieve. TPMTSA would provide states with increased flexibility to use Pittman-Robertson dollars for the development, expansion, and maintenance of public shooting ranges.  With millions of new shooters entering the sport, more than 50% of ranges experienced visitation increases in 2016.  TPMTSA would accommodate new shooters and help states and local managers meet growing demand for their facilities.” - Casey Snider, Interim CEO, Tread Lightly.

“Since the 1930s, hunters and recreational target shooters have been the driving force of conservation funding in the United States through the Pittman-Robertson Act. The Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports applauds the passage of H.R. 788, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act. By allowing state fish and wildlife agencies greater flexibility to use portions of their Pittman-Robertson funds to build and maintain recreational shooting ranges, access to recreational shooting opportunities will increase, which will continue to ensure critical funding for wildlife conservation remains strong for years to come.” - Cyrus Baird, Programs Director, Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports 

“Enactment of the Training Support Act would also ensure that wildlife conservation funding, through the Pittman-Robertson Act, will continue for generations to come. The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Conservation Trust fund, responsible for $11 billion in direct wildlife conservation and management initiatives since 1937, derives its funding through excise taxes levied on firearm, ammunition, and archery purchases. As more people engage in the shooting sports, more money is directed to the trust fund.” - Governor Dennis Daugaard, Chair, Western Governors Association.

“We are writing to urge passage of the bipartisan Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act (TPMTSA), S. 593 in the Senate and H.R. 788 in the House in 2018. Recently introduced by bipartisan cosponsors in the House and Senate, the bill has garnered wide support, including each of the four co-chairs of the Outdoor Recreation Caucus and the leaders of the Congressional Sportsmen Caucus.” - Jessica Wahl, Government Affairs Manager, Outdoor Industry Association.