Bruce Westerman Urges Committee To 'Listen To The Scientific Research' With Lead Ammunition

5 months ago

During a House Natural Resources Committee markup meeting before the Congressional recess, Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) spoke about the legislation slated to be marked up.

Transcript

00:00The committee will come to order. The chair notes the presence of a quorum.

00:03Pursuant to committee rules, members of the committee may submit written opening statements

00:07for the record, ask that members may revise and extend the remarks on the bills to be considered

00:12at this markup, and have those remarks included in the record. Without objection, so ordered.

00:20Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare recess of the committee at any time.

00:24Pursuant to committee rule 3i, the chair announces that I may postpone further proceedings

00:29today on the question of approving any measure or matter or adopting an amendment on which

00:34a recorded vote is ordered. I now recognize myself for an opening statement.

00:40Good morning and thank you for joining us today for a full committee markup.

00:43We have a full slate of legislation including three regular order bills that restore access

00:49for sportsmen and women, return management of recovered species to the states, and allow

00:54livestock producers to protect livestock from a predatory bird. The Grizzly Bear State Management

01:01Act of 2025, introduced by Representative Harriet Hagemann, accomplishes something that we should

01:06be doing more often, and that's celebrating listed species recovery through delisting.

01:13Wyoming communities, as well as those in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, have seen increased attacks on

01:19people, domesticated animals, and property as the population of bear has increased to 1,100 bears,

01:27more than double the original recovery goal. In January, the Biden administration rejected the

01:32state-led delisting petitions, ignoring the facts and voices of the local communities who experienced

01:38grizzly bear attacks firsthand. Since Congress first enacted the Endangered Species Act in 1973,

01:45only three percent of listed species have ever been classified as recovered and delisted. We can

01:52clearly see the success of the grizzly in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, and now it is time

01:57to listen to local communities and to list the species returning management to the states

02:02who know the species and the conditions best. Next, we have Congressman Rob Whitman's Protecting

02:09Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025, which is common sense legislation to prevent a ban on

02:15lead ammunition or tackle on federal lands and waters, except in instances where it's supported by

02:20science that shows a clear decline in wildlife population directly caused by the use of lead

02:26ammunition and tackle. In 2023, the Biden administration issued a misguided final rule, banning lead

02:33ammunition and tackle on eight national wildlife refuges for hunting and fishing to remain easily

02:38accessible recreational activities for all Americans. We must prevent future ideological based decisions

02:45and listen to the scientific research. In 2021, the National Shooting Sports Foundation concluded that lead

02:53free hunting ammunition is on average 24.66 percent more expensive than lead ammunition. Increasing the cost of

03:01these basic implements could easily turn hunting and fishing from pastimes enjoyed by many across the

03:08economic spectrum into hobbies only available to the wealthy. Mr. Whitman's legislation will prevent a

03:15government-imposed financial barrier to outdoor recreation and keep hunting and fishable accessible for

03:20sportsmen and women across the country. Finally, we consider legislation introduced by Congressman John Rose and Darren Soto,

03:28the Bipartisan Black Vulture Relief Act. This legislation will allow livestock producers to take black

03:34vultures and defend their herds without the requirement of a permit if the birds threaten livestock. It also

03:41provides clear guidance for reporting takes, streamlining the existing permit-based process.

03:47Livestock producers are on the front line of America's food supply and understand threats from predators like

03:53black vultures. These threats that are made to their operations, these farmers know this better than

03:59anyone. The legislation supports American producers and their day-to-day work and is a common sense

04:05solution to the issue. In addition to our regular bills, we have nine UC bills on which we have reached

04:12bipartisan agreement. These bills include legislation to speed up federal hiring of wildland firefighters,

04:17support a conservation program on the lower Colorado River, ensure government efficiency and conservation,

04:24reauthorize fishery research, provide relief for the effects of predatory species on aquaculture facilities,

04:30support the health of American white oak, and more. I look forward to our discussions today.

04:35I yield back and recognize ranking members.

Bruce Westerman Urges Committee To 'Listen To The Scientific Research' With Lead Ammunition

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