First week back, Senate to consider Sportsmen's Act

By Ramsey Cox - 11/13/12 11:29 AM ET

On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate will decide whether to proceed to the Sportsmen’s Act, which would increase access to federal land for hunters and fishermen while also supporting conservation measures.

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) introduced the legislation, which combines 20 bipartisan and bicameral bills, shortly before Congress left for the election recess.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) tried to bring the bill up for a vote before the elections, but Republicans wouldn’t agree to hold the vote, saying it was just a ploy to help Tester win reelection.

Tester did just that on Nov. 6, and now Republicans will have to decide if they’ll support the bill, which includes several measures proposed by GOP members in both the House and Senate, including Sen. David Vitter's (R-La.) Billfish Conservation Act.

At 2 p.m. the Senate and will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to the Sportsmen’s Act (S. 3525) and at 5:30 p.m. will vote on the motion to proceed to the bill.

S. 3525 increases hunters' and fishermen’s access to federal lands. To get more Democrats on board, the bill includes conservation measures, such as establishing a National Fish Habitat Board and extending the sale of stamps, the proceeds from which go to conservation funds that help elephants, tigers, rhinos, great apes, marine turtles and migratory birds.

Democratic Sens. Max Baucus (Mont.), Mark Begich (Alaska), Michael Bennet (Colo.), Bob Casey Jr. (Pa.), Kay Hagan (N.C.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Ben Nelson (Neb.), Mark Pryor (Ark.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), Tom Udall (N.M.) and Mark Warner (Va.) are all co-sponsors of the legislation.

This article was updated at 11 a.m.