Jon Tester: “I rise in support of the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act. First, I thank Senators Hagan and Murkowski for their leadership in…”

“I rise in support of the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act. First, I thank Senators Hagan and Murkowski for their leadership in gathering support and getting this bill to the floor. Nearly half of the Senate is cosponsoring this legislation from every corner of our country. It is truly a national bill, and that is why over 30 groups--from the National Shooting Sports Foundation and Ducks Unlimited to the Dallas Safari Club and many others--support this bill. It is an ambitious proposal that includes dozens of smart ideas from both sides of the aisle. It encourages private investment into fish habitat as well as land and wildlife management. This bill supports public shooting ranges so more folks have a place to take their kids to teach them how to responsibly handle a firearm, and it protects some of our best places to hunt, fish, and recreate. Make no mistake, the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act is also a jobs bill, which is something we constantly talk about needing more of around here. In my State of Montana, outdoor recreation supports tens of thousands of jobs. It is a $6 billion-a-year industry. Nationwide our outdoor economy creates and sustains more than 6 million jobs every single year. Despite the economic power of public lands to sustain the rural economy, some folks are talking about closing off the land and privatizing it. We cannot let that happen.…”