President signs 2002 Farm Bill (5/14/2002)

President George W. Bush has signed into law the 2002 Farm Bill. This important legislation re-authorizes conservation programs that help landowners restore, manage and enhance fish and wildlife habitat on farms, ranches and forests.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance worked with key conservation leaders in Congress and other leading national conservation organizations to ensure support for many Farm Bill components and programs. These programs are widely credited as being a key component to the abundance of wildlife enjoyed by millions across the country.

The Alliance also worked to have legislators drop two amendments to the bill that threatened sportsmen’s rights. One amendment would have federalized black bear management and the other would have impacted sporting dog enthusiasts by requiring anyone who sold puppies to "socialize" them.

According to the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Congressional Budget Office estimates the legislation will result in additional expenditures of $17.1 billion for conservation programs over the next ten years, an 80 percent increase over current conservation spending.

For example, the Conservation Reserve Program will expand from its existing acreage cap of 36.4 million acres to 39.2 million acres. The Wetland Reserve Program acreage also grows from 1.075 to 2.275 million acres. Nearly $360 million will be provided to the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program over the next six years and a new 2 million-acre Grassland Reserve Program will also be established.

The U. S. Sportsmen’s Alliance thanks sportsmen for their support of this bill and for contacting their Congressmen to urge them to support conservation.

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