A proposal by Congressmen John Campbell (R-CA) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR) to prohibit certain practices used to manage wildlife and predator species was defeated Thursday in the House of Representatives. The Campbell-Defazio Amendment was designed to limit spending that is used in efforts to manage the populations of coyotes, bears, foxes, mountain lions and other species that are potential threats to livestock.


The amendment to H.R. 2112, the Agriculture appropriations bill, was strongly opposed by the NRA and other pro-hunting organizations and was dubbed an “anti-hunting legislation” in a release issued by the NRA. It was pushed by the Humane Society of the United States and other similar groups.

 

“Wildlife and wildlife predators cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage annually to natural resources, public infrastructures, private property and agriculture,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director for NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action. “We will continue to oppose efforts like the Campbell-DeFazio Amendment that seek to diminish essential wildlife and predator management programs that protect our hunting heritage.”

The NRA said the amendment would have drastically reduced funding to the Wildlife Service Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Program (WS), which is authorized by Congress to manage a program to decrease human-wildlife conflicts throughout the United States, including damage from predator animals.


“This was yet another defeat for the anti-hunting agenda being pushed by the Humane Society of the United States, “concluded Cox. “The NRA will continue to fight to protect America’s hunting heritage from those who seek to eliminate it.”