On February 26, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 242 – 161 in favor of the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act (H.R. 2406), known as the SHARE Act.

H.R. 2406 is supported by more than 50 of the nation’s leading conservation groups, including Houston Safari Club. Read a summary of the SHARE Act here.

In addition, the following amendments were added to the SHARE Act during the floor vote:

• Adding the Administrator of U.S. Small Business Administration or a designated representative to the WHHCC
• Permitting more than one U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforcement Officer to be placed in a U.S. diplomatic or consular post in an African country, to assist local wildlife rangers in protection of elephants;
• Requiring the GAO to conduct a study examining the effect of a ban of the trade of illegal importation of ivory;
• Prohibiting the USDA and NFS from issuing restrictions and regulations on hunting and recreational fishing in Mark Twain National Forest;
• Requiring the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service to publish a notice in the Federal Register, with a justification, for the closure of any public road on Forest System lands;
• Requiring the Forest Administrator to amend the travel plan for the Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana to allow Utility Terrain Vehicle access on roads nominated by Secretary of Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, except when designation would pose a safety risk;
• Allowing a person who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition to transport it for any lawful purpose from a place where firearms/ammunition are legally allowed to another place where firearms/ammunition are legally allowed;
• Adding The Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act;
• Reinstating the Fish and Wildlife Service decision to delist the gray wolf in the Western Great Lakes and Wyoming, from the Endangered Species Act;
• Prohibiting the Fish and Wildlife Service from issuing a rule that preempts state management authority which is protected by law in Alaska;

The passage of the SHARE Act marks an important step closer to ensuring that America’s hunting and angling traditions remain a top priority in the hall of government.