John Rice Carter: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of H.R. 615, the Protecting Access For…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of H.R. 615, the Protecting Access For Hunters and Anglers Act of 2023 led by my friend, Mr. Wittman of Virginia. In 2022, the National Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to ban lead ammunition and tackle in seven National Wildlife Refuges by 2027. To put it plainly, this rule makes no sense whatsoever. It is simply another example of the Biden administration giving in to radical environmentalists who do not hunt nor fish in our national refuges. America's hunters and anglers contribute over a billion dollars a year in conservation funding via taxes on outdoor equipment like ammunition and tackle. On top of that, lead products are significantly cheaper than their lead-free counterparts, often costing 25 percent more. With prices rising on everything--thanks to Bidenomics--from gasoline to fishing tackle, why is it that this administration tries to limit access to wildlife refuges and jeopardize critical wildlife funding dollars? Hunters and anglers are the original conservationists, and without regulation based on science, this rule does nothing but hurt the environment it is attempting to protect. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure.”