Penn Families Afield Bill Clears Legislature, Awaits Governor's Signature
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Penn Families Afield Bill Clears Legislature, Awaits Governor's Signature





(Harrisburg) – A Pennsylvania bill has become the first Families Afield legislation in the country to reach a governor’s desk. The bill is designed to encourage more young people to take up hunting in an effort to increase sportsmen’s numbers.

Today, HB 1690 was sent to Gov. Ed Rendell. The House of Representatives voted 195-1 to accept a Senate amendment that authorizes the Pennsylvania Game Commission to create a mentored youth hunting program. The bill is part of the Families Afield campaign, established by a partnership of sportsmen’s organizations to aid in the recruitment of new hunters.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, along with the National Wild Turkey Federation and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, introduced Families Afield in an effort to increase hunter recruitment throughout the country.

The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously passed HB 1690 on Dec. 13. Rep. Bruce Smith, R-Dillsburg, originally introduced the bill to allow the hunting of coyotes over bait. Sen. Joe Conti, R-Doylestown, Chairman of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee, attached the mentored youth hunting language to the bill.

“The success of this Families Afield legislation was made possible by the dedication of Representatives Bruce Smith and Ed Staback, as well as Senator Joe Conti,” said U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Vice President for Government Affairs Rob Sexton. “These lawmakers understand the value of Pennsylvania’s hunting heritage and are doing their part to ensure its future.”

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance worked with the Pennsylvania Mentored Youth Committee, led by the state chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, National Rifle Association and others to rally sportsmen in the state to show support for the bill.

For further information about the Families Afield program, call Rob Sexton of the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance at (614) 888-4868, Tammy Sapp of the National Wild Turkey Federation at (800) THE-NWTF; Steve Wagner of the National Shooting Sports Foundation at (203) 426-1320.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.

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