For many people across the country, hunting and fishing is more than just a recreational activity; it has become a way of life. The people in Southeast and South central Missouri are fortunate to be situated next to the beautiful Mark Twain National Forest; most of the 1.5 million acres are right in Missouri's 8th Congressional District. It is important to me that Missourians have the right to enjoy hunting and fishing and that these rights are not obstructed by bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. who have never set foot in the Mark Twain.
Some of my fondest memories growing up were of my family and I spending time together hunting and fishing. On the opening day of trout season, it wasn’t about what we caught, but it was about spending that time together, and for us that was at beautiful Montauk State Park.
For many people across the country, hunting and fishing is more than just a recreational activity; it has become a way of life. The people in Southeast and South central Missouri are fortunate to be situated next to the beautiful Mark Twain National Forest; most of the 1.5 million acres are right in Missouri's 8th Congressional District. It is important to me that Missourians have the right to enjoy hunting and fishing and that these rights are not obstructed by bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. who have never set foot in the Mark Twain.
The traditions of hunting, fishing, and the outdoors have been championed throughout our history by Presidents George Washington, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Teddy Roosevelt—who established national forests, game preserves and national parks. Recently, the right to enjoy the traditions of hunting and fishing has come into question by interests outside of Missouri. In order to assure the residents of our state can carry on the time honored traditions of hunting and fishing, I included two amendments in the SHARE Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support last week.
The SHARE Act was supported by the Sportsmen's Foundation and was aimed at expanding access for hunters, fisherman and those who enjoy the outdoors.
My first amendment, adopted by the House, prevents federal agencies from placing physical barriers on trails which were only serving to obstruct legal hunting access to places like the Mark Twain. I have heard from numerous hunters and fisherman in Southeast Missouri who were frustrated to find trails closed during the peak of hunting season. My amendment will ensure that these hunters are not locked out from areas where they are legally allowed to hunt.
My second amendment, also adopted by the House, prohibits the federal government from placing any restriction on hunting and fishing in the Mark Twain National Forest. It was important to me to include this amendment in the bill to secure the rights of avid sportsmen and protect us against an overzealous administration who has a never ending appetite for new regulations restricting our Constitutionally protected freedoms.
You can count on me to continue to support efforts to protect Missourian’s rights to freely hunt and fish, but perhaps more importantly, to promote the tradition of teaching an appreciation for the great outdoors from one generation to the next.
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