Joe Cunningham: “I laud the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young) for this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I grew up in a little city called…”

“I laud the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young) for this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I grew up in a little city called Fresno, California. I had 11 uncles that taught me how to hunt and fish. As a matter of fact, one time I threw a gum wrapper down in the woods, and my grandfather picked me up and threw me in a stream. I did not do it again. The opportunity to enjoy the woods, to enjoy the fish and game that our forefathers have is very, very important. We have had legislation on this floor like the tuna-dolphin that allowed us, not only to save dolphin, but to preserve our fish species and not destroy our bycatch. We have had bills on shark finning to preserve, even things that I do not like because I am a diver, sharks. But it is science based in its nature. People that most use the resource are the ones that are going to pay for it. The Sportsmen's Caucus, made up of Republicans and Democrats and conservationists and environmentalists, support this legislation. We have a vision, not just for right now, but 100 years from now so that my children and my grandchildren will be able to use these resources. Organizations like Ducks Unlimited that have put billions of dollars into habitat to bring about the restoration of ducks and geese across this country. Accountability, effectiveness, responsibility, and science based are some of the things that go into this particular bill.”