John Shaw: “Many lands and waters managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service allow recreational fishing and include more than 260…”

“Many lands and waters managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service allow recreational fishing and include more than 260 public fishing programs on national wildlife refuges nationwide. There were about 6 million fishing visits to national wildlife refuges in 1999. While the number of visitors engaged in freshwater fishing is holding steady, saltwater fishing is growing in popularity. Recent surveys indicate that many people engage in fishing in order to experience peace and solitude. National wildlife refuges can offer a quiet, yet wild, fishing experience for the American people. Among prime fishing experiences on national wildlife refuges are Tamarac Refuge in Minnesota, featuring some 21 lakes, five of which are open to canoes or small boats; anglers can reel in northern pike and walleye. The Bayou Sauvage near New Orleans gives urban anglers a spectacular setting of both freshwater and saltwater fishing. In Philadelphia, John Heinz Refuge provides year-round fishing opportunities as one of the growing number of refuges with facilities that are disabled accessible. In my home State of Florida there are about 30 such refuges in where countless numbers of natives and tourists go each year to experience the great outdoors. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this resolution and our National Wildlife Refuge System, which creates these opportunities for anglers all across the United States.”