Lois Capps: “I thank my colleague for yielding. Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 2406. This bill is being described…”

“I thank my colleague for yielding. Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 2406. This bill is being described as a simple package to support hunting and fishing on Federal lands. For fishing and hunting to be sustained, it must be done with a mind toward conservation. Unfortunately, this bill fails to achieve this need, and it threatens the very environment that supports the animals. Of course, by doing so, it endangers the sustainability and long-term viability of hunting and fishing, also. Furthermore, this bill ignores scientifically based best practices, leaving these lands at risk. While there are numerous bad provisions in the bill, including allowing ill-advised ivory and polar bear importation and actually preventing scientifically based regulations, this bill is particularly troubling because it limits Federal management, lead ammunition, and fishing tackle. We hear every day about the dangers of lead. The devastating impacts of lead poisoning are not just restricted to people. I have seen these dangers firsthand, as they are extremely apparent in my district on the central coast of California. As anyone from California knows, the California condor, the largest North American land bird and an iconic species along the central coast, was on the brink of extinction, in large part due to lead poisoning. A looming threat to this species remains, so we must stay vigilant.…”