U.S. Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) last week offered a bipartisan bill that would increase federal funding to improve wildlife and habitat conservation and recreation programs in America.
“I am pleased to introduce this important bill that underscores our commitment to conserving America’s natural heritage, investing in outdoor recreation, and making ATF’s [the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’] processes for law-abiding citizens more efficient,” Rep. Moore said. “This bill represents a transformative step in funding our nation’s wildlife conservation while streamlining federal processes.”
The congressman sponsored the Tax Stamp Revenue Transfer for Wildlife and Recreation Act, H.R. 6352, alongside original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) to transfer a portion of the ATF firearms transfer tax imposed under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to the federal Wildlife Restoration Program fund and the Conservation of America’s Wildlife Trust Fund, according to the congressional record bill summary.
Under the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA), all applicants seeking to transfer a suppressor are required to undergo a background check and pay a $200 tax stamp, funding that’s currently deposited into the U.S. Treasury without any specific direction, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Moore’s staff.
If enacted, H.R. 6352 would allocate these taxes to both support wildlife conservation and recreation and expedite ATF processing. Specifically, 15 percent of the total revenue would go to the ATF’s NFA division to expedite the processing of suppressor applications, with the remaining 85 percent being split between the Pittman Robertson Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund and funding for the development, maintenance, and operation of recreational shooting ranges, the summary says.
“Applying this same principle to the sale of accessories like silencers will increase consistency with the law, bolster conservation efforts in Maine, and make the background check process more efficient and effective,” said Rep. Golden.
The bill has been endorsed by the National Wildlife Federation, the Utah Department of Natural Resources, the Mule Deer Foundation, the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine Institute for Legislative Action, Silencer Central, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Delta Waterfowl, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation, Safari Club International, and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.