Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2015
This bill revises a variety of existing programs related to hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and wildlife.
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act, the African Elephant Conservation Act, the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994, the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997, the Great Ape Conservation Fund, and the Marine Turtle Conservation Fund are reauthorized through FY2020.
The Toxic Substances Control Act is amended to exempt components of firearms and ammunition and sport fishing equipment and its components (such as lead sinkers) from regulations on chemical substances.
The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act is amended to: (1) increase the proportion of funding from the Act that states may use for public target ranges, and (2) extend by 10 years a requirement that interest on wildlife restoration funds be allocated to finance certain North American wetlands conservation projects.
The Department of the Interior must issue permits to allow a hunter to import polar bear parts (other than internal organs) provided that the hunter submits proof that the bear was legally harvested in Canada from an approved population before the May 15, 2008, listing of the polar bear as threatened.
The bill revises standards for determining what a baited area is for purposes of the prohibition on taking migratory game birds.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may not promulgate or enforce regulations that prohibit individuals from possessing a firearm in public areas in water resources development projects.
The Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000 is amended to authorize Interior to award a multi-year grant to carry out a long-term conservation strategy for great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos, orangutans, or gibbons) and their habitats.
The Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 is amended to make a wildlife management authority of a U.S. territory eligible for financial assistance for marine turtle conservation.
| Action Date | Type | Text | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-02-24 | Calendars | Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 371. | Senate |
| 2016-02-24 | Committee | Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Inhofe with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-210. Minority views filed. | Senate |
| 2016-01-20 | Committee | Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably. | Senate |
| 2015-03-17 | Committee | Committee on Environment and Public Works Senate Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-24. | Senate |
| 2015-03-04 | IntroReferral | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. | Senate |
| 2015-03-04 | IntroReferral | Introduced in Senate | Library of Congress |