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Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after the Senate Energy and Resources Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on legislation sponsored by Senator John McCain, Jeff Flake as well as Congressman Gosar entitled the Grand Canyon Bison Management Act which would direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a bison management plan for Grand Canyon National Park:
“The federal government's standard policy for dealing with invasive species, like the beefalo, is to waste taxpayer dollars hiring private sharpshooters to kill and remove animals that are overpopulating an area. The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Interior spend roughly $100 million on projects like this each year. As the Park Service seeks to reduce the exploding bison population in Grand Canyon National Park, it should save taxpayer money and put Arizona hunters to work doing what they love, accomplishing this important task for free. I am pleased to see action by the Senate on this commonsense legislation that empowers sportsmen and supports local conservation efforts.”
Prior to the hearing, several organizations provided letters in strong support of the bill:
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation supports the Grand Canyon Bison Management Act stating, “This legislation represents a well thought-out and reasonable approach to addressing the ongoing damage to cultural and natural resources caused by the overpopulation of bison in Grand Canyon National Park.” Click HERE to read the full letter of support.
Safari Club International supports H.R. 1443 and S.782, the Grand Canyon Bison Management Act, stating, “This legislation will provide sportsmen and women with a unique opportunity to participate in sustainable-use conservation in Grand Canyon National Park and will help the National Park Service better manage the Park’s wildlife.” Click HERE to read the full letter of support.
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission supports the Grand Canyon Bison Management Act stating, “Over the past few decades, the bison abundance, distribution, and movement in and near the Grand Canyon's North Rim, have impacted both natural and cultural resources within the Park… The Commission implores you to hold a hearing on H.R. 1443 at the next appropriate Federal Lands Subcommittee hearing and become part of this common-sense solution to protect the Grand Canyon’s natural and cultural resources.” Click HERE to read the full letter of support.
Additional:
The video of the Subcommittee Hearing can be found HERE.
The full text of the Grand Canyon Bison Management Act can be found HERE.
It is estimated that the herd needs to be reduced by about 200 head to meet sustainable management levels.
The bill requires the Secretary of Interior to coordinate with the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, the appropriate state wildlife management agency, to implement a management plan that includes hunting as an option for dealing with the invasive bison. The management plan must follow all federal environmental laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act.
The House cosponsors of this legislation include Congressman Trent Franks (R, AZ-08), Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick (D, AZ-01), Congressman Matt Salmon (R, AZ-05), Congressman David Schweikert (R, AZ-06), Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (D, AZ-09), Congressman Tom McClintock (R-CA-04), Congresswoman Cynthia M. Lummis (R, WY-At Large) and Ryan Zinke (R, MT-At Large).
Over the last 10 to 15 years, the cross-breed of cattle and bison, the beefalo, have migrated from the Kaibab National Forest and found sanctuary inside the Grand Canyon National Park, protected from hunters. The estimated 600 head of bison are wreaking havoc on the park lands, eating native grasslands and polluting wetlands with their waste.
In order to preserve Grand Canyon National Park from further ruin, the bill clarifies that bison meat is not ‘federal surplus property’ and is allowed to be removed from the park. This act will allow hunters and conservationists to play an important role in addressing the bison population problem.
A recent Fox News article documenting the decimation of the Bison in the Grand Canyon National Park can be found HERE.
H.R. 1443, the bipartisan Grand Canyon Bison Management Act, is supported by: Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Safari Club International, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Arizona Game and Fish Commission, Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation, Arizona Antelope Foundation, Arizona Bass Federation Nation, Arizona Big Game Super Raffle, Arizona Bowhunters Association, Arizona Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation, Arizona Deer Association, Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, Arizona Elk Society, Arizona Houndsmen, Coconino Sportsmen, Houston Safari Club, Outdoor Experience 4 All SRT Outdoors, the BASS Federation,1.2.3.Go… and Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich.
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