Wild Heritage Horizons

The Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act was passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday September 26, 2023 in a 424-1 vote, showing overwhelming support.

On September 27th, 2023 the Senate passed the legislation unanimously.

The Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act (H.R. 5110) was signed into law on Friday October 6, 2023 by President Joe Biden.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is being amended by the new legislation; where the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 reads “No funds under this chapter may be used— …(7) for the provision to any person of a dangerous weapon, … or training in the use of a dangerous weapon.” will now have added “except that this paragraph shall not apply to the use of funds under this Act for activities carried out under programs authorized by this Act that are otherwise permissible under such programs and that provide students with educational instruction or educational enrichment activities, such as archery, hunting, other shooting sports, or culinary arts” before the period at the end of the sentence.

The White House Press Release on Oct 6, 2023 stated in plainer terms; “Federal funds may be used to provide certain weapons or training in the use of weapons within educational instruction or enrichment activities“.

The bipartisan support of the act is a massive win for all hunters, conservationists and any outdoors man / woman. The ability to use federal funding in hunter’s education courses or similar courses, will help allow for proper firearm, or bow safety instructions with the ability to have hands on teaching moments.

It is great to see hunting being acknowledged as a heritage in our culture, and hopefully this act will make it more accessible to the next generation with the proper education. We believe that federal funding will help elevate the quality of current programs that are offering hunter education and will help impress the importance of the impacts our various sporting activities have on conservation.

Many organizations have voiced their approval of the bill including;

Ducks Unlimited in an article stated: “Today’s students are tomorrow’s conservationists,” said Ducks Unlimited CEO Adam Putnam. “The opportunity to learn about hunting and the outdoors is foundational to a well-rounded education. Programs that teach courses on wilderness, archery, shooting, and hunter education offer important exposure to our cherished sporting heritage and help preserve it for the next generation. We appreciate Congress for acting in bipartisan fashion to preserve funding for these important school programs.“

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership wrote “The bipartisan legislation that passed Congress this week would help more Americans build confidence in the great outdoors and safeguard hunting and angling traditions.” in an article titled “TRCP Applauds Passage of the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act“

The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) stated “On behalf of all the 1.3 million active student archers, as well as the millions of students that now have an easier path to be introduced to NASP®, THANK YOU to everyone who helped to develop this resolution!” in their article.

What are your thoughts on the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act?