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Committee Action

Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands to Hold Legislative Hearing on Sportsmanship and Cabin Fee Fairness Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 1, 2011 | Jill Strait, Spencer Pederson or Crystal Feldman (202-225-2761)
On Friday, September 9th the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands will hold a legislative hearing on three bills. The first two bills, sponsored by Representatives Benishek and Broun, respectively, will protect the traditional rights of sportsmen and women to fish, hunt, and pursue outdoor recreation on public lands. The third bill, to be formally introduced by Natural Resources Chairman Doc Hastings next week, amends the annual fee structure for cabins on Forest Service land. Chairman Hastings introduced a similar bill last Congress: H.R. 4888, the Cabin Fee Act of 2010.

The current cabin fee structure is unpredictable, leaving families who own cabins in our National Forests subject to arbitrary, escalating cabin fees caused by an ineffective appraisal system. Faced with unaffordable fees, many cabin owners have put their cabins on the market only to find that the skyrocketing fees make the cabins unsellable. If Congress fails to enact a realistic and fair fees system, many families may be forced to abandon and tear down their cabins, many of which have been passed down from generation to generation.

Chairman Hastings’ legislation will make the current volatile fee structure more predictable so that families aren’t blind-sided by exorbitant, subjective cabin fees. The bill being introduced this Congress will include a slightly modified formula for calculating fees, with the goal of ensuring the bill is revenue neutral without imposing fees that are beyond the reach of American families.

WHAT: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands
Legislative Hearing on:
  • H.R. ____ (Benishek) To recognize the heritage of recreational fishing, hunting, and shooting on Federal public lands and ensure continued opportunities for these activities. "Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act."
  • H.R. 1444 (Broun) Require hunting to be in all federal land use management plans;
  • H.R. ____ (Hastings) "Cabin Fees Act of 2011."

Witnesses to be announced.
WHEN: Friday, September 9, 2011
10:00 A.M.

WHERE: 1334 Hearing Room in the Longworth House Office Building

Visit the Committee Hearings webpage for testimony and additional information, once it is made available. The hearing is open to the public and a live video stream will be broadcast at /live.

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