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The Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program is a Federal Bill
that was first introduced to Congress in 2003 and then again in 2005 by
Senators Kent Conrad of North Dakota
and Pat Roberts of Kansas. It never made
it through but there is still a possibility it will be introduced in this Congress (the 110th) which ends
in January 2007. Plans are to introduce it again, for sure, in the next congress (the 111th) which
begins January 3, 2009.
The last version of the bill called for the Federal Government
to provide up to $20 million dollars per year to States that already
have public access programs in place. Many States have very limited budgets for these types of programs
so this bill was drawn up to assist them. It is having a hard time making it through as Congress is
reluctant to fund such a program over education, fighting crime, and other major issues facing the United States.
Obviously, the more support it gets the better the chances it will make it.
This bill has heavy bipartisan support nationwide including FIVE Senators and Representatives
from New York. Many private organizations have also gotten behind it. The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation
Partnership Website has more information about the bill and sponsors.
*** Please note the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership Website is heavily out of date regarding
this issue. There are likely more now. Most of the information gained for this page was obtained by
direct calls to Senator Conrad and Roberts offices.
Pros of the Bill
- Additional funding for public access points throughout the State
- The State does not have to match funds. It's free money for public access projects.
- States can better plan for future projects and expand on current ones knowing the funding will
be available each year.
Cons
- It does not guarantee that the money will go toward creating new public access points.
States may use the funding to improve existing projects including CRP land and existing State property.
The bill does not require States to create new public access points.
- Many States have public access programs in place that are not well received by the public.
- The program could add tax burden on the State since those lands
may no longer be taxable. Idaho is a good example and you can dig through this link if you want more information
- 2003 House Resources & Conservation Committee Notes
Getting Involved
The best thing a New York hunting enthusiast can do is to get more Congressmen to support
the bill. Right now, the following New York Congressmen are already signed on as Co-Sponsors of the bill -
Senator Charles Schumer,
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton,
U.S. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert,
U.S. Rep. John E. Sweeney, and
U.S. Rep. Jim Walsh.
The link below will take you to a list of current New York Congressmen. Contact the one closest to you
by email, fax, or snail mail who
is not already supporting the bill and encourage them to do so.
If you are not sure what district you are in the you can use this page to find out
New York Congressional Districts
Here is a sample letter you can use that we obtained from the
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Fund.
Subject: Supporting "Open Fields"
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
I am writing as a constituent of yours who loves and enjoys the outdoors and am strongly urging you to cosponsor bipartisan legislation (S 548/HR 1351) that will make it possible for me to continue this pastime. Sadly, I have found it harder and harder to get access to places to hunt and fish. Over the years I've watched as more and more private land is posted off limits to me. There was a time when simply requesting a landowner's permission was enough to get the nod for a great day in the woods or by a stream. Now many landowners are leasing their land and giving me and my friends a "no" for that and other reasons.
State access programs are successfully providing a remedy to this problem. As you may know they offer landowners financial incentives to voluntarily allow public hunting and angling on their land. They also encourage habitat improvement. The "Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program of 2005" was introduced in March 2005, by Senators Kent Conrad and Pat Roberts as S 548, and by Representatives Earl Pomeroy and Tom Osborne as HR 1351 in the U.S. House. This legislation, known as the "Open Fields" bill, gives these state access programs a much needed, albeit modest funding boost.
I am writing to urge you to co-sponsor this bipartisan bill which was cosponsored in the last Congress by 40 Members. The small $20 million-a-year expenditure it calls for could open more than 4 million additional acres of private farms and ranches to the public each year. Fish and Wildlife Service numbers show the number of sportsmen and women in this country is heading down hill and shrinking access is largely to blame. This small expenditure is a simple way to start reversing this trend.
Although the average American sportsmen and women can't afford to buy access, they spend an average of $113 on food, gas, and lodging, each day they enjoy the outdoors, which in turn substantially boosts local economies. "Open Fields" is a wise investment that will guard America's hunting and fishing heritage, boost local rural economies, and reverse the trend of decreasing hunter and angler numbers.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
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