Kent Conrad: “in March Senator Roberts joined me in introducing S. 548, the Voluntary Public Access and Wildlife Habitat Incentive…”

“in March Senator Roberts joined me in introducing S. 548, the Voluntary Public Access and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program Act of 2005. This legislation is enthusiastically supported not only by America's hunters and anglers, but also by agricultural producers, private landowners and those interested in rural development. Open Fields, as this bipartisan legislation is commonly known, addresses hunting, fishing and other recreational access on private land. The legislation also tackles rural development issues head on. Dwindling access to quality hunting, angling and other wildlife- dependent opportunities is a trend that slowly is pulling apart the American sporting tradition. At the same time, farmers, ranchers, and small town businesses are desperately looking for the means and opportunities to revitalize and stimulate their local economies. These two needs, the need for better access for sportsmen who can not afford to lease land, and the need for economic stimulation in rural America have intersected and spurred the creation of highly effective state public access programs. Walk-in or access programs are not a new concept. In fact they have very successfully begun to reverse the trend of diminishing numbers of hunters and anglers in States with these programs.…”