WASHINGTON -- The U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday passed the HR 5069, the Federal Duck Stamp Act of 2014. The measure will go to the House floor for consideration.
The Federal Duck Stamp Act of 2014, a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, would raise the price of the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (duck stamp) to $25 from its current level of $15. The amount of the increase would purchase conservation easements with private landowners.
It would be the first increase for the duck stamp since 1991.
"Since then, the price of land has tripled and conservation buying power has diminished greatly," said Dale Hall, chief executive officer for Ducks Unlimited. "Once again, sportsmen and women are willing to lead in funding conservation that benefits all of our citizens."
Since its enactment in 1934, the federal duck stamp program has protected nearly 6 million acres of habitat through expenditures of more than $900 million. The price of the duck stamp has been raised only seven times. The last price increase raised the price of the stamp to $15 -- the single longest period without a price increase in the program's history.
The Congressional Budget Office found that because the federal duck stamp is a user fee, such a price increase would have no net impact on federal spending.
Rep. Jon Fleming (R - Louisiana) sponsored the bill. Reps. Ron Kind (D-Wisconsin), Jason Smith (R-Missouri) and Rob Wittman (R-Virginia) co-sponsored.
-- Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Sports on 08/03/2014