The Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries convened an oversight hearing to discuss public access to hunting and fishing and the maintenance of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Subcommittee Chair Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) commented on the significance of these activities, stating, “Hunting and fishing are a way of life for millions of Americans, these activities grow rural economies and protect outdoor heritage. Today, we examined ways to improve stewardship of our resources and promote access for responsible sportsmanship.”
The National Wildlife Refuge System consists of lands and waters managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service across all 50 states and U.S. territories. The system covers nearly 900 million acres dedicated to providing habitat for fish and wildlife. Management practices regarding hunting and fishing vary between units within the system.
Recreational hunting and fishing generate significant conservation funding each year. However, there is currently a deferred maintenance backlog estimated at $2 billion within the refuge system. Lawmakers discussed strategies such as expanding Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) and Stewardship Contract Authority to allow non-federal partners—including states, counties, tribes, and philanthropic organizations—to assist with land management efforts.
GNA allows collaboration in forest management among federal agencies like the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, state governments, counties, and tribal entities. Stewardship Contracting Authority provides additional opportunities for non-federal groups to support on-the-ground conservation work.
Concerns were also raised about regulatory challenges affecting recreational fishing access in certain regions due to policies based on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Recreational Information Program.
Committee members emphasized that healthy ecosystems are essential for sustaining jobs related to hunting and fishing as well as supporting economic activity in rural communities.
For further details about the hearing, more information is available online.
