Texas HB 2213 – Relating to the slaughter and processing of exotic animals for donation to a nonprofit food bank
Texas Representative John Frullo (R-District 84) introduced legislation (H.B. No. 2213) to allow for the donation of exotic animals to nonprofit food banks. Hunters donate thousands of pounds of white-tailed deer meat to nonprofits each year, to be used as a protein source for food banks, which feed thousands of people. The donation of exotic animals (Axis deer for example) is not currently allowed in the state of Texas. The amount of donated meat would greatly increase if the donation of exotics would be allowed. Please ask your Texas Representatives and Senators to co-sponsor this bill and to vote in favor of passage. HSC provided testimony in favor of the bill before the House Public Health Committee on 03/24/21. The bill was approved in the House and has been received in the Senate. Learn more HERE
Texas HB 2757 – Relating to the eligibility of certain nonprofit wildlife conservation associations to conduct charitable raffles
Texas Representative John P. Cyrier (R-District 17) introduced legislation to update the law to allow nonprofits to conduct one (1) raffle per month vs. the current restriction of two (2) per year and to increase value of a prize offered or awarded at a raffle that is purchased by the organization or for which the organization provides from $50,000 to $75,000. HSC had requested the bill markup include provisions to allow nonprofits the ability to sell raffle tickets beyond an organization’s previously identified supporters, market a raffle statewide to the general public via mass communication and sell raffle tickets online. The bill was approved in the House and has been received in the Senate. HSC is currently evaluating options to introduce language via a Senate companion bill that is more beneficial to nonprofit fundraising efforts and feels the language in the current bill is more limiting than helpful. Learn more HERE
Anti-Hunting groups attempt to invoke Freedom Of Information Act on trophy importers
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) received Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for information related to the import and export of wildlife specimens and flora into and out of the United States contained in the Law Enforcement Management Information System (LEMIS) database. All objections are due by June 1, 2021. Read the notice HERE
HSC supports Robert Bonnie nomination for Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation
HSC, in association with several other conservation groups, expressed their support for the nomination of Robert Bonnie to serve as Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. Bonnie is a lifelong sportsman and has a record of working on a bipartisan basis to achieve shared habitat and conservation goals for sportsmen and sportswomen. Read the letter HERE
HSC supports nomination of Tommy Beaudreau for Deputy Secretary of DOI
HSC, in association with several other conservation groups, expressed their support for the nomination Tommy Beaudreau to serve as Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior (DOI). Throughout his career Mr. Beaudreau has consistently sought the input of sportsmen and women-conservationists and utilized their guidance to inform policy decisions important to our community. A dedicated sportsman, Mr. Beaudreau also has a proven track record of working across the aisle to achieve robust conservation outcomes. Read the letter HERE
HSC continues support of Bristol Bay permanent protections
HSC, in association with several other conservation groups, issued a letter to President Biden requesting his administration uphold the November, 2020, decision by the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to deny a Clean Water Act permit for the proposed Pebble mine, and that your administration finalize strong protections for the Bristol Bay region through the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) use of Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act, and work with Congress to permanently protect the Bristol Bay watershed. Read the letter HERE
