Republican Congressman upset over language to defund hunting

[fedupfisherman]

Congressman Denny Rehberg, 516 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

N E W S

October 23, 2007

Rehberg Urges House Appropriations Committee Leaders to Oppose Anti-Hunting Language in Foreign Operations Bill

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana's Congressman, Denny Rehberg, joined House colleagues in contacting House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey and Ranking Member Jerry Lewis urging them to oppose anti-hunting language included in the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill.

The language included in the bill would prohibit any U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funds from going to Africa for “programs that support or promote recreational, sport, or trophy hunting as a conservation tool.” USAID provides economic and humanitarian assistance to countries around the world.

“Hunting has been proven to be both an effective means of conservation and an economic stimulus for communities across the African continent,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “It’s critical that as part of our international support of wildlife conservation abroad, we continue to utilize this tool. This language would allow the anti-hunting political ideology of a few member of Congress to get in the way of the effective wildlife management being done in Africa.”

“We disapprove of this language because hunting is, in fact, a proven and useful tool for wildlife conservation,” said Rehberg in a letter. “Hunting operations conserve wildlife on 540,000 square miles, which is 22 percent more land than is found in the national parks of Africa. Trophy hunting by 18,500 hunters generates $200 million annually for remote rural areas in the 23 African countries that allow hunting. This revenue funds local, national, and international conservation efforts, but also flows to the local people and economy.”

Letter:

Dear Chairman Obey and Ranking Member Lewis:

We write in opposition to language included in the committee report for H.R. 2764, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008, and ask that it not be included in any future conference committee report or omnibus legislation.

The language we refer to prohibits the use of funds from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to support conservation programs in Africa that utilize hunting as a conservation tool, and begins at the end of page 61:

The Committee is concerned about reports that USAID directly and indirectly supports recreational, sport and trophy hunting in its assistance programs in Africa. The Committee directs USAID to provide no funds to programs that support or promote recreational, sport, or trophy hunting as a conservation tool.

We disapprove of this language because hunting is, in fact, a proven and useful tool for wildlife conservation. Hunting operations conserve wildlife on 540,000 square miles, which is 22 percent more land than is found in the national parks of Africa. Trophy hunting by 18,500 hunters generates $200 million annually for remote rural areas in the 23 African countries that allow hunting. This revenue funds local, national, and international conservation efforts, but also flows to the local people and economy.

U.S. federal law recognizes the value of hunting to conservation, as evidenced by the National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act of 1996 and the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act. Furthermore, a series of laws passed since 1987, beginning with the African Elephant Conservation Act, provide funding for foreign activities that benefit wildlife, including hunting.

These U.S. statutes, along with non-governmental organizations around the world and the African governments and people who benefit from such programs, all acknowledge that hunting provides an economic incentive for wildlife and habitat conservation in areas where no other means of conservation have succeeded. Therefore, we urge you to reject the above language and ensure that it remains out of future reports and legislation.

Sincerely,

# # #

[Mojorabbit]

1. I am of two minds about this

My husband hunts but only animals that we will eat, ie deer, turkey, and hogs. I abhor hunting just to have something to stuff. I wonder if it is taken into account how many animals of a certain species are in an area and if tallys are kept so that overhunting does not occur.I know a lot of the poorest countries need funding for their conservation efforts. I wish the funding could come from something else
though....

[fedupfisherman]

3. Hunters from NA and Europe do bring monies to these African countries

A number of African animals were saved by hunters on game ranches, like the black wildebeest

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. I hope that expand this bill

to cover what Blackwater is doing in Iraq.