May 2012

The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee approved their version of the 2012 Farm Bill on April 26, according to the Wildlife Management Institute. In an attempt to address federal deficit reduction, a number of changes to current agriculture programs were incorporated in the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 including consolidation of 23 conservation programs into 13.

The legislation incorporates the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) into the Environmental Quality...

The Sportsmen's Heritage Act (H.R. 4089) passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 274 to 146 on April 17. Many groups are now pushing for action in the Senate, however, the bill's momentum has created a rift among some conservation organizations. While many sportsmen's groups are touting the bill's importance to entrench hunting, fishing and shooting on federal public lands, others claim the bill is unnecessary and could undermine wilderness protection, reports the Wildlife Management...

On May 2, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper announced the release of a plan for the state's roadless areas. The Colorado Roadless Rule provides protection for 4.2 million acres on eight national...

A conference committee has begun work on developing a final Transportation bill after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a temporary extension that is conferenceable with the Senate-passed bill. Opening statements for the conference committee began on May 8 and staff will be negotiating policy provisions to develop a compromise bill before the current extension expires on June 30, reports the Wildlife...