The Biden Administration sought to block government funding for school shooting courses, such as hunting and archery, but the House voted against it this week by a landslide.
The Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act was passed in a 424-1 vote after it was discovered this summer that the Department of Education was restricting the funding for hunting and archery teaching in schools.
“Hunters and fishers are the best conservationists,” Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) stated.
“Hunting, whether it be with a firearm or bow, is one of the most effective ways to control wildlife populations, protect our beautiful lands, and connect with nature. My Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act is critical for our children.”
Green also said students ought to “participate in enriching athletic activities that foster an appreciation for nature and the ability to focus on a goal.”
Green said that in Tennessee alone, the funding restriction by the Biden Administration would have affected over 50,000 kids.
It was revealed in July that the Education Department told hunting education leaders that school programs would be losing all federal funding, referring to last year’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) as the reason for the cut.
They also stated that hunting and archery courses make use of “technically dangerous weapons,” which therefore “may not be funded under” the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965.
Some advocates have highlighted that the courses have already been removed from many schools as a result of government pressure.
“The Department of Education and Secretary Cardona are blatantly misconstruing the law to withhold funding from schools that choose to teach beneficial courses like hunter safety and archery,” said Lawrence Keane, senior vice president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
“Congress must hold Secretary Cardona and the department accountable for violating the letter and spirit of the law to unilaterally deny America’s students access to these valuable programs as part of the Administration’s continued attacks on the Second Amendment,” Keane went on.
The president of the National Archery in the Schools Program, Tommy Floyd, stated that his program impacts well over 1 million students in nearly every state.
The Department of Education, however, has strongly stood ground in that it would take legislative measures for them to change their mind on the funding.
BSCA was a bill many believed to be a “gun control” bill, that was advertised as a way to create “safer, more inclusive and positive” schools, and was signed off by Biden in the summer of 2022.
Federal funding for any hunting or archery courses were cut as a result of the bill passing.
BSCA Senate sponsors John Cornyn, Thom Tillis, and Kyrsten Sinema brought in companion legislation to the bill in the beginning of September, however.
“The Biden administration’s misinterpretation of these provisions has jeopardized educational enrichment programs like hunting and archery, which play a critical role in our next generation’s development and well-being,” Cornyn stated following the House voting this week.
“This legislation would ensure these programs remain available in schools across the nation, and I urge the Senate to pass it as soon as possible.”
