Of course, Mr. Chairman, we all know that hunting, fishing, and other outdoor sports represent more than dollars and cents. They represent an important part of our heritage, a tradition that's passed down from generation to generation.

What concerns me is whether Jack's generation will be able to enjoy the same opportunities that my family did. And this is why the Disabled Sportsmen's Access Act is so important. This is important legislation and it will ensure that outdoor programs on our nation's military installations will be accessible to the disabled.

General Norman Schwartzkopf called Jack Fasciana a true American hero, and I couldn't agree more. Despite having a very rare neuromuscular disorder called early onset torsion dystonia, Jack has proved that a disability doesn't have to be an obstacle to enjoying the outdoors. He's hunted with his dad since he was two and a half years old, and he was recently honored with the Safari Club International's Special Young Hunter Award. As a matter of fact, Jack told me at that event, he stood in front of an audience and addressed an audience of 1,500 people, right, Jack? And he did it very well.

Dystonia is a terrible disease, Mr. Chairman, but it hasn't dampened Jack's love of the outdoors. We, as policymakers, have an obligation to Jack and to other disabled sportsmen to enact policies which will allow them to enjoy hunting and fishing so that they will be able to pass this tradition on to their children and grandchildren.

I thank you again, Mr. Chairman, for giving me the opportunity to speak this morning. And Jack, I thank you for very good testimony. We really appreciate having you with us this morning.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. PETERSON. We thank the gentlelady from New York for coming and sharing with us about her constituent. We appreciate that. I would like to thank the entire panel, and especially Jack. Jack, those of us who sometimes worry about the future of this country, when we see young people like you, motivated as you are, willing to speak out as you are, I think we are in good hands for the future. So you keep on doing what you are doing. You keep on being the exceptional young man that you are, and we'll all be very proud to watch you proceed.

To the whole panel, thank you for coming today and supporting a very good piece of legislation.

[The prepared statement of the National Rifle Association may be found at end of hearing.]

Mr. PETERSON. This hearing is in recess.

[Whereupon, at 11:14 a.m., the Subcommittee adjourned subject to the call of the Chair.]

[Additional material submitted for the record follows.]

STATEMENT OF SHERRI W. GOODMAN, DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY)

I would like to thank Chairman Saxton and the members of the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans for inviting me to testify today on behalf of the Department of Defense. I am happy to report that the Department has worked with Representative Cunningham's staff to make some minor but necessary revisions to the bill as introduced, and I am now pleased to convey to you the Department's full support for the Disabled Sportsmen's Access Act.

DoD manages 25 million acres of land across the United States, an area the size of the state of Virginia, which makes us the third largest land management department in the United States. DoD lands are managed first and foremost to provide for the training and testing necessary to enhance military readiness.

DoD lands support readiness, testing of new weapon systems, testing of munitions, deployment of weapon systems, and combat training exercises. To have the ability to deploy and fight successfully anywhere in the world, the armed forces must train in a wide variety of climatic and terrain conditions. Training areas are located throughout the United States on grasslands, deserts, coastal areas, forests and tundra. For example, desert environments are used for maneuvers that involve large, mechanized battalions; coastal zones and beaches provide the setting for missile launches and amphibious landings; forested areas are essential for small arms combat training; and, large open areas are needed to accommodate air-to-ground bombing ranges.

DoD lands are rich in various natural resources and we have an obligation to protect those resources for future generations. Our lands are home to many important species and habitats. DoD takes pride in its stewardship program and has had policies in place to conserve its natural and cultural resources for many years. This early commitment to sustainable resource management has evolved into well-defined, formalized, and integrated conservation policies.

DoD's conservation program is focused on supporting the military mission. Sound conservation practices enhance mission safety; promote sustainability of training areas; and provide increased flexibility for military trainers. For example, we are working closely with military trainers to reduce the risk of loss of aircrews and aircraft to bird strikes. Recent efforts have substantially increased our ability to map large concentrations of birds. We have also started to use weather radar to provide near real time information on bird locations. This will permit aircrews to make last minute changes to flights to avoid potential hazards. The Army's Integrated Training Area Management program helps control vegetation loss and reduce soil erosion caused by tracked vehicles through a combination of monitoring, rehabilitation, and education. By clearly identifying when and where training lands are impacted, we are able to balance immediate military training needs with the land's ability to sustain long-term use.

DoD also is developing new management approaches to increase military training flexibility on the use of land with sensitive species or habitats. One approach is to manage natural resources as part of an entire ecosystem. Land management plans and species recovery plans are developed based upon a more complete understanding of resources and habitat throughout the region. The plans balance the responsibility for supporting endangered species among all major Federal landowners. In addition, the plans ensure future development does not interfere with mission capabilities and is compatible with measures to protect endangered or threatened species. That's why we are moving to an ecosystem approach to managing our lands. This new approach has increased access to formerly restricted areas at locations such as Camp Pendleton, California, and Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Although DoD's primary conservation focus is mission support, DoD manages its lands for multiple uses, including outdoor recreation such as hunting and fishing, commercial forestry and agriculture programs, and threatened and endangered species management. By using comprehensive, integrated resource planning, DoD natural resource managers ensure that military mission requirements are met and other uses are accommodated whenever feasible.

A major component of DoD's conservation program at many DoD installations is its natural resources-based outdoor recreation program. By offering the opportunity to hunt, fish, hike, bird watch, and engage in other outdoor activities, DoD's conservation managers enhance the quality of life for our installation residents and those authorized patrons who reside in the vicinity of an installation. DoD bases have offered these programs for many years and have made them available whenever military needs and sound management practices allow.

Concerning access for disabled sportsmen the Department of Defense is subject to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Additionally, it is DoD policy that all outdoor recreational opportunities meet all requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Furthermore, many bases have integrated special outdoor recreation programs for the disabled into their natural resources programs. They have also constructed special facilities to encourage hunting, fishing, and other outdoor uses of our natural resources by authorized patrons who are disabled. I would like to provide you with just a few examples of where our installations are providing such access to disabled sportsmen.

For example, for the past ten years, Naval Surface Weapons Center, Crane, Indiana, has annually invited approximately 120 holders of an Indiana Handicapped Deer Hunting Permit to hunt on base prior to the legal firearm deer hunting season, with the permission of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The Indiana Deer Hunters Association helps the Station with this hunt by assisting in notifying hunters of the hunt and by supplying people to walk with the disabled hunters. The success rate during the hunt is usually double that of a regular hunt because the Navy allows hunters with disabilities more chances to move around than are allowed during regular hunts, and use the volunteers and Station personnel help the hunters track down any deer they might have wounded. For many of the hunters, this is the only chance they have each year to hunt deer with a reasonable chance of success.

Scott AFB, Illinois, offers a fishing pier designed specifically for persons with disabilities. Scott provided this design to Robins AFB, Georgia, in 1996, and it became the prototype for Robins' handicapped angler access pier construction program. Robins has constructed two fishing piers accessible to persons with disabilities. This design also has been proposed for use throughout Air Mobility Command. The design complies with national handicapped access standards. The all weather construction allows safe access to the water with a protective hand rail throughout and a roomy, level deck extending over the water surface.

For the last four years, Eglin AFB, Florida, in conjunction with the Florida Disabled Hunters Association, has sponsored a Mobility Impaired Hunt in areas normally closed to public hunting due to mission testing. These areas have some of the highest white-tailed deer and wild hog densities on Eglin and in the Florida Panhandle. The Eglin Natural Resources Branch distributes to and accepts applications from interested hunters, and the Florida Disabled Hunters Association screens those applications to ensure applicants meet the mobility impaired criteria. After the screening process, Eglin randomly randomly selects 40 qualified applicants to participate in a two day, weekend hunt Eglin invests many field hours identifying and designating hunting locations to provide the highest quality hunting opportunities possible. Eglin escorts the hunters into the closed areas and drops them off at their designated stand locations. They check on the hunters several times during the day to see if they need any assistance, including finding, retrieving, and dressing game. During last year's hunt, a total of 37 hunters harvested 54 deer and one hog. Among the successful hunters were one who had been unable to harvest a deer in 35 years, and another who had not been successful for the past ten years.

Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, has constructed nine ground blinds on stands for disabled hunters. These stands were built by volunteers with donated materials from the Paralyzed Veterans of America and a local hardware store. These stands are reserved for disabled hunters only, and availability is advertised in local newspapers and the Paralyzed Veterans newsletter. The stands are open all season. Quantico is also planning to build a fishing pier with access for handicapped persons, with low gradient trails. It will be completed next year to allow year round river access for disabled fishermen.

Ravenna Army Ammunition Plant, Ohio, provides deer hunting permits for those in wheelchairs, as space permits, and sets aside a designated hunting area for these special needs hunters. Ravenna helps the hunters set up, and ensures that each hunter has a non-hunting partner to assist his or her needs.

McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, Oklahoma, dedicates one weekend during the annual deer hunt to physically challenged hunters only. An average of 100 hunters participate in these hunts.

Pine Bluff Arsenal, Arkansas, has just implemented a policy which allows persons with disabilities to have exclusive use of deer stands that they erect. Pine Bluff also allows persons with disabilities to purchase a lifetime permit for the price of a normal annual permit.

Blossom Point Research Facility, Maryland, has one wheelchair accessible stand and two others that are only one step off the ground. An individual with a motorized wheelchair and others who have had hip and/or knee replacements and cannot climb stairs use these stands. The Blossom Point hunting program is open to the public by lottery so that hunting opportunities are offered to all individuals, not just those affiliated with DoD.

Camp Ripley, Minnesota, annually conducts a two-day, Disabled American Veterans hunt for deer in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources Wildlife and Enforcement divisions, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Disabled American Veterans, and local veterans groups. This program was initiated in 1992, when twenty one participants succeeded in obtaining seven deer.

Camp Navajo, Arizona, initiated a successful hunt for disabled veterans only, which allows them to hunt without interference from other hunters. This hunt will be expanded this year with the addition of some four wheel drive all terrain vehicles that will be used to transport disabled veteran hunters throughout the hunting

area.

Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Laboratory has hosted a Disabled Veterans Special Deer Hunt annually since 1987, in cooperation with the Virginia Deer Hunters Association. The Association provides 50 to 75 volunteers each year to aid disabled veterans, conduct the deer drives, provide nourishment to the hunters, and prepare the venison. The disabled veterans are situated in the back of pickup trucks to enhance their ability to see the deer and to gain access to different parts of the base. Some 12 to 15 disabled veterans participate each year.

At Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida, handicapped access is taken into consideration for all nature trails. For example, the Station is currently building a wheelchair ramp onto the pavilion at its Watchable Wildlife area, with a paved walkway leading from the pavilion to its natural resources education center. The Station is also constructing a nature walk with fiber mulch and a boardwalk through a wetlands area that meet Americans for Disabilities Act standards.

The many examples I have discussed with you today testify to the Department's commitment to make outdoor recreational opportunities more available to members of the disabled community. Some of our installations have developed particularly innovative programs that could well serve as models for disabled sportsmen's access anywhere. With this legislation to spur our efforts, and these many successful installation programs as our polestar, we look forward to providing the disabled even greater access to the rich and varied outdoor recreational opportunities our military lands offer.

I would be happy to answer any questions from the Committee.

STATEMENT OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL A. LEWIS DEAL, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

Mr. Chairman and members of the House Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans, it is my great pleasure and honor to address you today on such an historic piece of legislation. I would like to begin by acknowledging the leadership of Rep. Cunningham and Sen. Burns for their leadership on behalf of disabled sportsmen.

BACKGROUND

The genesis and foundation for my involvement with disabled sportsmen began at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, in 1993. I read an article in the March 1993 edition of OUTDOOR LIFE magazine addressing the needs and challenges of disabled sportsmen returning to the great outdoors. It occurred to me that Quantico could develop a hunting program that would allow access for our disabled veterans. I wrote a proposal and sent it to Brigadier General Steele who at that time was the base Commanding General. His decision was quick and decisive, "We are going to make this happen." With the help of eager volunteers, donated materials from the Paralyzed Veterans of America and a local hardware store, we constructed several wooden ground blinds. That fall we initiated a disabled veterans "pilot" hunting program. It was a huge success. Quantico now has a fully integrated disabled hunting program open to any disabled sportsman. The hunting program includes deer, small game, and turkey. There are 10 permanent ground blinds and a "HUNTMASTER" elevating lift. The base Boy Scout Troop just completed building wheelchair accessible paths for our Trap/Skeet range. We are also in the final planning stages for building a handicapped accessible fishing pier. We feel Quantico has a model program for other DoD installations. In fact, I have received requests from disabled veterans as far away as Oklahoma and Florida asking to come hunt at Quantico. I do not feel disabled veterans should have to travel that far to utilize a military facility, especially when there are military bases in their home states.

CONCEPT

Since the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed in 1990, there has been a tremendous groundswell of support for people with disabilities in this country. Nationwide there are hundreds of programs and initiatives to give citizens with disabilities access to buildings, facilities, and recreational activities.

The Department of Defense (DoD) manages nearly 25 million acres of land, containing every conceivable landform and type of habitat. These well managed lands provide environments in which fish and game animals flourish. Our military installations offer numerous outdoor recreation programs (fishing, hunting, trap/skeet, boating, camping, wildlife viewing, etc.) which provide outstanding opportunities for both military and civilian sportsmen.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is dedicated to administrating Federal programs and benefits for nearly 28 million veterans. There are approximately 9 million veterans classified as "disabled" of which nearly 78,000, due to a spinal cord injury or dysfunction (SCD) are in wheelchairs. The SCD numbers are increasing at 1,200 to 1,500 a year. This is due in part to the "aging" of the veterans population (9.3 million, 65 or older by the year 2000) and its associated medical problems. In this era of decreasing budgets and healthcare reform, the VA is constantly seeking resources and innovative programs to provide for adequate healthcare and improved quality of life.

It is a well documented fact that outdoor activities for people with disabilities are more than just recreation, they are therapeutic. They add an intangible quality to life and personal well being. The opportunity to have access to outdoor facilities/programs is a powerful form of proactive rehabilitation which emphasizes outpatient vice inpatient healthcare.

An invaluable source of "volunteer" support and resources for assistance on this issue are the national service and military organizations (i.e., Paralyzed Veterans of America, Inc., Marine Corps League, Vietnam Veterans Institute, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Jewish War Veterans of the United States, Association of the United States Army, Navy League of the United States, Air Force Association, AMVETS, etc.).

There are also numerous sporting industry and public-private sporting organizations which are already assisting in other disabled outdoor projects (The Wheelin' Sportsmen of America, Inc., National Shooting Sports Foundation, Coalition to Promote Accessible Outdoor Recreation, Haas Outdoors Inc., Savage Arms, Inc., National Wheelchair Shooting Sports Federation, Safari Club International, Fishing has no boundaries, Inc., Ducks Unlimited, The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, Buckmasters, etc.).

Summary

In closing I would like to thank all the individuals and organizations across the country who have worked so hard in support of disabled sportsmen.

My involvement with disabled sportsmen, specifically our disabled veterans has been a deeply rewarding and satisfying experience. When I have put the call out for volunteers to help with our program at Quantico the response has always been nothing less than overwhelming. I am confident that such support will continue.

Thank you for allowing me to be here today. I am eagerly standing by to assist in any manner I can. SEMPER FI!

STATEMENT OF H. LARRY GERLACH, LT.COL. USMC (RET.)

Thank you, Chairman Saxton for inviting me to testify today on H.R. 2760, the Disabled Sportsmen's Access Act. I come before the Subcommittee today as veteran with spinal cord injury who has been able to enjoy the outdoors and hunt deer and turkey for the past three years as result of the great disabled sportsmen's access program at Marine Corps Base Quantico. The Quantico program can and should serve as the model for the implementation of H.R. 2760. It shouldn't be exactly replicated on every installation but can be used as a guide and adapted to the local community. I thank the Subcommittee for taking the time to consider this bill and I thank Representatives Cunningham and Tanner for sponsoring it.

As a sportsman who loves fishing and hunting or just to be afield or afloat, I have a vested interest in this Act and program, and although I wouldn't presume to speak for all the disabled, veterans or not, I know a large number of them would benefit from this Bill which would enable many of them to add to their quality of life. The inclusion of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in a consultation role along with national service, military, and veterans organizations and sporting organizations in the private sector is significant and adds much to the Bill. The Department