President Signs S. 47, Expands Fishing Access
John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act a big win for anglers, hunters
President Donald Trump, on Tuesday, signed into law S. 47, a package of bills that “sets forth provisions regarding various programs, projects, activities, and studies for the management and conservation of natural resources on federal lands.” Originally titled the Natural Resources Management Act, S. 47 was later renamed the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act, in honor of late U.S. Rep. John Dingell of Michigan. Dingell was a champion for conservation and helped craft the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (Dingell-Johnson Act) that established an excise tax on fishing products to help fund conservation and access projects for anglers.
S. 47 is actually an expansive package of bills that, among other things, expands hunting and fishing access, designates new wilderness areas, and conserves key habitat that hunters and anglers enjoy. A news release sent out by Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky celebrates the bill for helping to fight Asian carp. Per the release: “[The bill] includes a provision calling for federal agencies to develop plans to reduce or eliminate invasive species populations, like Asian carp. The measure supported by Senator McConnell also requires agencies to develop cost-effective measures to combat the invasive species and ensures funding is directed to on-the-ground activities in impacted communities, like those surrounding Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake.”
Most notable for American hunters and anglers is that S. 47 permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The LWCF has existed for more than 50 years and has contributed dollars to projects in every state and nearly every county in the country. Each year, about $900 million in offshore drilling royalties are generated for LWCF. Though Congress diverts some of these dollars into other projects, LWCF money is authorized for projects that conserve and protect green spaces, build parks and ball fields, conserve wildlife habitat, safeguard drinking water supplies, preserve battlefields and other areas of cultural significance, protect national parks and wildlife areas, and myriad other programs that help Americans enjoy the outdoors. Many anglers reading this have likely launched a boat or cast a line at a public access area built thanks to LWCF.
The signing of S. 47 into law is being celebrated by conservation organizations around the country, and should mean great things for anglers everywhere.