The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a margin of 424-1 yesterday, and next heads to the President’s desk with support from overwhelming, veto-proof majorities in both chambers.
“The Department of Education has taken congressional intent, stretched it, warped it, and used it to put hunter safety skills at risk for the next generation of Alaskans,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski. “Today we sent a very clear message that hunting safety and archery are important life skills for countless Americans, especially Alaskans, and that schools may continue to fund these hunter safety heritage programs.”
“The Alaska Department of Fish and Game thanks everyone involved for their efforts to ensure we can continue to provide outdoor education activities in Alaska,” said Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang. “This will help ensure that our hunting heritage can continue throughout our state.”
“The Safari Club-Alaska Chapter thanks Senator Murkowski for her hard work in getting this very important piece of legislation into law. In a state like Alaska the protection of our hunting heritage and the education of our youth on ethical hunting and proper use of firearms is extremely important. Thanks again Senator Murkowski,” said John Sturgeon, President of the Alaska Chapter of the Safari Club International.
“This is a problem that should’ve never happened, but I’m glad we have fixed it. I opposed the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act based on serious concerns I had about how the bill’s vague language could be used by the Biden administration to impede Alaskans’ Second Amendment rights. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened,” said Sen. Sullivan. “My team and I have heard from hundreds of Alaskans, including a bipartisan group of Alaska legislators, who are rightly outraged at the Biden Education Department’s effort to subvert school hunting and archery programs—programs that teach vital skills and cultural values integral to Alaska’s way of life. I’m glad my Senate colleagues have come together in a bipartisan way to restore this funding that actually saves lives by promoting safe firearm-handling practices.”
“Hunting is a way of life in Alaska,” said Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. “The overwhelming support of Congress for this legislation sends a clear message to the Biden administration that archery, shooting sport clubs, and hunting education matters to Americans.”
H.R.5110, Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act, corrects a problem created by the Department of Education (DOE) in its guidance for the implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). Contrary to congressional intent, DOE sought to prohibit schools from using federal education funding for classes and activities that use “dangerous weapons,” which it defined to include hunter safety and archery programs and culinary programs that used certain cutting tools.
