Actions for Increase Federal Funding for State Conservation and Access Programs and Initiatives
- 3. - Recommend new programs and authorities to promote hunter access.
- 3.1 - Create a tax credit for fish and wildlife protections, restoration and enhancement and wildlife dependent recreation
- 3.2 - Revive proposal for a 50 percent capital gains exclusion for conservation land sales
- 3.3 - Provide federal funds to state-based programs that open private lands to hunters and anglers
- 3.4 - Authorize the use of non-federal funding to match federal funding for State Access Programs
- 3.5 - Increase structured hunting programs and recreational shooting opportunities
- 3.6 - Provide federal technical assistance to states to expand and enhance private land conservation projects on lands enrolled in state access programs
- 3.7 - Encourage federal or state governments to purchase easements on lands needed to open wildlife corridors
- 3.8 - Facilitate National Park Service (NPS) purchase of conservation and access easements from willing sellers
- 3.9 - Provide funding for the necessary infrastructure for enrollment in state access programs
- 3.10 - Establish formal arrangements with states and 501(c)3 organizations to fund public relations and marketing programs for hunting and fishing
- 4. - Improve the Federal Land Transfer Facilitation Act (FLTFA).
- 4.1 - Develop a Conservation and Recreation Benefits Index (CRBI)
- 4.2 - Consider how receipts could be directed to a non-federal account where they would be leveraged by nonfederal funding and obligated to a prioritized list of projects chosen based on their CRBI score
- 4.3 - Establish priorities for acquisition that would include purchase of title and/or easements on lands
- 5. - Draft and enact an Upland Conservation Act.
- 6. - Establish the Impact Directed Environmental Account (IDEA).
- 7. - Identify, in cooperation with state agencies, options for improving Federal Excise Taxes (FET).
- 7.1 - Seek information from Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Excise Tax working group
- 7.2 - Consider expanding or reducing the categories of hunting and fishing equipment currently subject to FET
- 7.3 - Consider including or excluding categories of wildlife dependent recreation and associated equipment
- 7.4 - Educate consumers and the public about the categories currently subject to FET
- 7.5 - Develop legislative recommendations to reduce the costs and administrative burdens on manufacturers subject to the FET
- 8. - Establish a Blue Ribbon panel of experts on wildlife funding
Supporting documentation and findings
