Hoyle Helps Pass Bipartisan Bill to Protect Archery and Hunter Education Programs in Schools
The bill will now head to the Senate and contains provisions to ensure schools can continue to offer archery and hunter safety education programs, which are vital to rural communities
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) successfully helped pass the Protecting Our Hunting Heritage and Education Act (H.R. 5110) in the U.S. House of Representatives. This month, Congresswoman Hoyle sent a letter urging the House Education and Workforce Committee and the House Appropriations Committee to swiftly pass bipartisan legislation to clarify that federal funding can continue for school archery, hunter safety, culinary arts, and other related outdoor programs. The final bill, the Protecting Our Hunting Heritage and Education Act, incorporated many of the provisions that Congresswoman Hoyle fought for in her letter.
“I was proud to speak on the House Floor in support of this bill and work with my colleagues to pass it through the House. These classes are so important in rural communities where people hunt for both food and sport, including many of my constituents in Oregon,” said Rep. Hoyle. “It’s time for the Senate to pass this bill to ensure young people can continue to have access to these programs.”
Earlier this month, Congresswoman Hoyle also led a bipartisan letter urging the U.S. Department of Education to reconsider its interpretation of language in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), which has resulted in potentially cutting off federal funding for these programs. The letter stated that the Department’s interpretation does not reflect the original intent of the BSCA. The letter also reiterated strong support for gun violence prevention efforts and pointed to the BSCA as a crucial tool in helping to make our schools and communities safer.
For decades, schools across the country have provided archery and hunter education classes with funding authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965. The original intent of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act provision was to restrict federal ESEA funding for armed school resource officers and the arming of teachers, not to prohibit ESEA funding for archery and hunter safety classes for students.
Congresswoman Val Hoyle represents Oregon’s newly drawn fourth congressional district, which includes Benton, Coos, Curry, Lane, and Lincoln Counties, as well as part of Douglas County. Representative Hoyle serves on the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources. Visit https://hoyle.house.gov/ or follow @RepValHoyle for more information.
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