2018: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Allowing The Hunting Of Sea Lions In
Certain Areas. In June 2018, Fitzpatrick voted against a bill that
would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, "authorize[d] the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to issue permits for
certain state governments to hunt for sea lions. The states that would
[have] be[en] eligible for the permits would be Washington, Oregon,
Idaho, and American Indian Tribes with lands surrounding the Columbia
River and its tributaries, and each permit would [have] authorize[d]
the taking of up to 100 sea lions." The vote was on passage. The House
passed the bill by a vote of 288 to 116. The Senate took no substantive
action on the legislation. [House Vote 294,
6/26/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/26/18; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
2083]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Allowing The Use Of Lead Ammunition
When Hunting On Federal Land. In April 2024, Fitzpatrick voted against
, according to Congressional Quarterly, "the bill that would prohibit
the Interior and Agriculture departments from banning the use of lead
ammunition or tackle on federal lands or waters that are under their
jurisdiction and made available for hunting or fishing. It also would
prevent the departments from issuing regulations relating to the level
of lead ammunition or tackle being used on these lands. The prohibition
on such bans would not apply to regulations in cases where an applicable
department determines a decline in wildlife is triggered by the use of
lead ammunition or tackle, or when the regulations against lead are
consistent with state policy. It also would not apply if regulations
against lead are consistent with an applicable policy of the fish and
wildlife department of the state where the federal land or water is
located." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote
of 214 to 201. [House Vote 167,
4/30/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 4/30/24;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
615]
2017: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Disapproving A Rule That Prohibits
Aggressive Predator Control In National Wildlife Refuges In Alaska. In
February 2017, Fitzpatrick voted against disapproving an Interior
Department rule on predator control in Alaska's National Wildlife
Refuges via the Congressional Review Act. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "This resolution disapproves the rule issued by the Interior
Department on Aug. 5, 2016, that prohibits certain predator control
practices in national wildlife refuges in Alaska (the rule formally
titled 'Non-Subsistence Take of Wildlife, and Public Participation and
Closure Procedures, on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska'). The
measure provides that the rule would have no force or effect." The vote
was on the resolution. The House adopted the legislation by a vote of
225 to 193. The legislation was signed into law by the president.
[House Vote 98, 2/16/17;
Congressional Quarterly,
2/10/17;
Congressional Actions, H. J. Res.
69]
Since The 1990's, Alaska Has Aimed To Support A Higher Number Of
Game Species By Reducing Predator Population; This Violates Fish And
Wildlife Regulations If Not Based On Sound Science. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "Since the mid-1990s, [Alaska's]
management policy has aimed to support a high number of game species
by reducing the population of predators, a practice commonly known
as predator control. However, unless based on 'sound science,'
predator control violates FWS's statutory obligations to ensure
biological integrity, diversity and environmental health of refuges
and its wildlife by not favoring one species over another."
[Congressional Quarterly,
2/10/17]
Rule Prohibited Aggressive Predator Control Practices In National
Wildlife Refuges In Alaska, Specifically Prohibiting "The Taking Of
Mother Bears And Their Cubs, The Taking Of Brown Bears By Luring
Them With 'Bait' (I.E., Food), The Killing Of Wolves And Their Pups
At Den Sites, And Aerial Shooting In National Wildlife Refuges."
According to Congressional Quarterly, "The FWS last year finalized a
rule focused on wildlife refuges that prohibits aggressive predator
control practices in national wildlife refuges in Alaska, to ensure
that those refuges are managed consistently with federal laws,
regulations and FWS policies. Specifically, the rule prohibits the
taking of mother bears and their cubs, the taking of brown bears by
luring them with 'bait' (i.e., food), the killing of wolves and
their pups at den sites, and aerial shooting in national wildlife
refuges. The final rule was issued on Aug. 5, 2016, and took effect
on Sept. 6, 2016." [Congressional Quarterly,
2/10/17]
As Part Of The Alaska Statehood Compact, Alaska Generally Manages
Hunting And Gaming On Federal Land, Which In Alaska Is About The
Same Size As The State Of New Mexico. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "There are 76.8 million acres of wildlife refuges in
Alaska --- roughly equal in size to New Mexico. Under the Alaska
Statehood Compact and the Alaska National Interest Lands
Conservation Act (ANILCA; PL 96-487), Alaska, unlike most states,
generally manages hunting and trapping on federal lands (including
national wildlife refuges) through a partnership with the Interior
Department's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) unless the
management violates federal policy. [Congressional Quarterly,
2/10/17]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For An Amendment To The FY 2020 Continuing
Appropriations Prohibiting The Importation Of Sport-Hunted Elephant Or
Lion Trophies. In June 2019, Fitzpatrick voted for an amendment that
would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "prohibit the use of funds
made available by the bill to issue permits for the importation of
sport-hunted elephant or lion trophies from Zimbabwe, Zambia, or
Tanzania" The vote was on adoption of the amendment. The House accepted
the amendment by a vote of 239-192. [House Vote 380,
6/20/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/20/19;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.435;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.3055]