Tester Fights For Hunter Safety Funding

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester stressed during a conference media call last week how he is challenging the Biden Administration’s plan to prohibit the use of federal funds for hunting education, shooting sports and school archery classes.

“Montanans make memories and fill their freezers each fall,” Tester said of the state’s hunting tradition. “Part of preserving that tradition – as well as protecting our Second Amendment Rights – is making sure that our kids have access to hunting, rifle sports and archery courses in our public schools, so that the next generation of Montanans knows how to hunt and recreate safely.”

The senator’s Defending Hunters Education Act is an amendment to a key Senate spending package. The bipartisan legislation would force the Biden Administration to reverse course on their decision to prohibit the use of federal funds for school archery and hunting education classes.

Tester is hopeful that the bill comes up for a vote this week. He feels the bill could pass unanimously in the Senate.

“Hunter safety is a big deal, how to handle guns safely,” Tester said.

Tester said the Department of Education’s plan is to take funds from hunting education and archery programs at schools, and not other federal funding from schools.

The senator is pleased that the U.S. Air Force announced recently that the Montana Air National Guard Base (MANG) in Great Falls will receive eight C-130J aircrafts.

Tester said the aircrafts can carry up to 45,000 pounds of cargo, be used to fight wildfires and conduct search and rescue operations.

He feels the Farm Bill should be done by the end of the year. The major hurdle appears to be how to increase the reference price for grains.

Regarding the threat of a government shutdown, Tester said it could hurt the nation’s defense, seniors and veterans.

“Let me make this clear: shutting down our federal government would hurt our national security, and only emboldens our foreign adversaries like the Chinese government who want to take America’s place as the world’s leading military and economic superpower,” Tester said.

Tester said the last government shutdown “wasted” $11 billion.

He feels $31 trillion is too much of a national debt, but the way to question spending is through the appropriations process, not at the 11th hour. He feels threats of government shutdowns have become too common during the last decade.

“The American people shouldn’t stand for it,” Tester said.