HEARING ON H.R. 2760, DISABLED SPORTSMEN'S ACCESS ACT HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISHERIES CONSERVATION, OF THE COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES ONE HUNDRED FIFTH CONGRESS For sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Sales Office, Washington, DC 20402 ISBN 0-16-057089-1 DEPOSITORY JUL 2 3 10 Stanford W.J. (BILLY) TAUZIN, Louisiana RICHARD W. POMBO, California HELEN CHENOWETH, Idaho LINDA SMITH, Washington GEORGE P. RADANOVICH, California WALTER B. JONES, JR., North Carolina WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY, Texas JOHN SHADEGG, Arizona JOHN E. ENSIGN, Nevada ROBERT F. SMITH, Oregon JOHN PETERSON, Pennsylvania BOB SCHAFFER, Colorado MICHAEL D. CRAPO, Idaho GEORGE MILLER, California PETER A. DEFAZIO, Oregon ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American NEIL ABERCROMBIE, Hawaii OWEN B. PICKETT, Virginia FRANK PALLONE, JR., New Jersey CALVIN M. DOOLEY, California CARLOS A. ROMERO-BARCELO, Puerto Rico MAURICE D. HINCHEY, New York ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD, Guam SAM FARR, California PATRICK J. KENNEDY, Rhode Island ADAM SMITH, Washington WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts CHRIS JOHN, Louisiana DONNA CHRISTIAN-GREEN, Virgin Islands RON KIND, Wisconsin LLOYD DOGGETT, Texas CONTENTS Hearing held May 14, 1998 Statement of Members: Chambliss, Hon. Saxby, a Representative in Congress from the State of Georgia Prepared statement of Cunningham, Hon. Randy "Duke", a Representative in Congress from the State of California Prepared statement of Pallone, Hon. Frank, Jr., a Representative in Congress from the State Peterson, Hon. Collin, a Representative in Congress from the State of Prepared statement of Saxton, Hon. Jim, a Representative in Congress from the State of New Page 1 56 33 2 45 1 Young, Hon. Don, a Representative in Congress from the State of Alaska, prepared statement of 2 Statement of Witnesses: Fasciana, Jack, Safari Club International Prepared statement of Deal, Lieutenant Colonel A. Lewis, Executive Officer, Weapons Training Prepared statement of Gerlach, H. Larry, Lieutenant Colonel, USMC, Retired Prepared statement of Goodman, Sherri W., Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environmental Security, Department of Defense Thomas, Kirk, President, Wheelin' Sportsmen of America, Inc. Additional material supplied: National Rifle Association of America, prepared statement of. (III) HEARING ON H.R. 2760, DISABLED THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1998 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISH- TEE ON RESOURCES, Washington, DC. The Subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:04 a.m., in room 1324 Longworth House Office Building, Hon. Jim Saxton (chairman of the Subcommittee) presiding. Mr. SAXTON. Let me make an announcement, if I may. We've just been called for a vote and I have to leave here at 11 a.m. Mr. Cunningham, do you want to try to get your statement in before we go to vote? Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Yes. Mr. SAXTON. OK. And let me ask unanimous consent that Mr. Pallone's statement and my statement be entered into the record. [The prepared statement of Mr. Saxton follows:] STATEMENT OF HON. JIM SAXTON, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY Good morning. The purpose of today's hearing is to discuss H.R. 2760, the Disabled Sportsmen's Access Act. By way of background, the Department of Defense (DOD) controls nearly 30 million acres of valuable fish and wildlife habitat at approximately 900 military installations nationwide. Enacted by Congress in 1960, the Sikes Act provides a mechanism for cooperative wildlife management on these military installations. Most military installations offer numerous outdoor recreational programs that provide excellent opportunities for both military and civilian sportsmen. However, there is no system-wide policy for making these lands available and accessible to disabled veterans or civilians with disabilities. Today, the Quantico Marine Base, which is about 30 miles west of Washington, DC, has a "fully integrated program for disabled veterans from the first day of bow season to the last day of gun season." Quantico is a model for other military installations throughout the United States. H.R. 2760, an amendment to the Sikes Act, would encourage the Department of Defense to provide improved access for disabled individuals, where appropriate and within the military mission. Furthermore, H.R. 2760 allows the Department to accept donations of private money, material and volunteers for the construction of facilities accessible to sportsmen with disabilities. The goal of this proposal is to increase access to military installations for hunting, fishing, boating and other outdoor activities for the disabled. H.R. 2760 has been endorsed by a number of groups including: Disabled American Veterans, International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Safari Club International, Wheeling Sportsmen of America, and the Wildlife Management Institute. I am looking forward to hearing from our distinguished witnesses today. |