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Washington, D.C. – Alaska Congressman Don Young today offered an amendment to H.R. 2406, the Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act, that would reverse federal rulemaking by the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Park Service (NPS) to significantly restrict hunting and wildlife management practices upon federal lands in Alaska.

“The Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposal to restrict state-approved management practices and the National Park Service’s rule to regulate hunting and trapping in Alaskan preserves are both clear-cut examples of federal overreach,” said Congressman Don Young. “These actions further the Obama administration’s attempt to expand its regulatory authority over Alaska and restrict access to our lands and resources. Both actions desecrate the many protections contained in ANILCA, and I intend to fight back against this wholesale violation of the law.”

Similar to an amendment secured by Senator Dan Sullivan to S.659, Congressman Young’s amendment – which cleared the House Rules Committee today – would prohibit the FWS from implementing their January 8, 2016 proposed rule. Young’s amendment takes the issue one step further by requiring the withdrawal of an October 23, 2015 final rule issued by the NPS that preempts state management authority promised to Alaska under terms of the Alaska Statehood Compact and guaranteed under ANILCA.

Young’s amendment to the SHARE Act will be considered on the House floor on Friday, February 26, 2016.

The SHARE Act – a bipartisan package of bills focused on protecting and enhancing opportunities for recreational hunting, fishing, and shooting – contains two stand alone bills sponsored by Congressman Young:

Title III, the Polar Bear Conservation and Fairness Act

• This section represents a limited fix affecting roughly 41 American hunters, including two Alaskans, who are currently prohibited from importing their legally taken polar bear trophies into the United States. 

Title V, the Africa Elephant Conservation and Legal Ivory Possession Act

• This section would effectively end the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s unilateral moratorium on the importation, exportation, and sale of lawfully possessed ivory, while also making significant efforts to assist anti-poaching efforts in countries with elephant populations.

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