Tell your Senators to Oppose the Sale of Public Lands
Currently, the U.S. Senate is debating a bill that would require the sale of millions of acres of public lands. Language in the Senate budget reconciliation bill would require federal agencies to sell between 2 and 3 million acres, resulting in lost recreational access across 11 Western states. This language would sidestep the established, transparent processes for public lands management, which give anglers a seat at the table and ensure sale of federal lands is reinvested in conservation.
We need your help to call on your Senators to oppose the inclusion of this language. Click the link below to tell Congress to stand up for public lands.
Bill to Reauthorize Sport Fish Restoration Act Introduced in House of Representatives
Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Rob Wittman (R-VA) introduced the Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2025 (H.R. 3858) in the U.S. House of Representatives. This bill would reauthorize the Dingell-Johnson Sportfish Restoration Act through 2031.
The excise tax on sportfishing equipment is considered one of the most successful “user pay, public benefit” programs in the world and a cornerstone of the American conservation model. Since its inception, the Sport Fish Restoration Fund has generated over $12 billion for fisheries conservation, habitat restoration, research and public access improvements.
Click the link below to read more.
President Trump Announces Trade Deal with China
President Trump announced on social media that a deal with China is “done.” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick elaborated that the 55% tariff rate will be the total tariff on imported Chinese goods and includes the 10% reciprocal IEEPA tariffs, 20% IEEPA fentanyl/border security tariffs, and the 25% Section 301 tariffs.
The announcement follows two days of talks in London between U.S. and Chinese negotiators. The White House has not published formal notification or implementation details.
Sens. Cramer & Alsobrooks Send Letter on Army Corps Recreation Site Closures
Last week, Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) sent a joint letter to the Department of Defense and the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) expressing concern over the ongoing hiring freeze that has led to the extended closure of dozens of recreation sites, including boat ramps and other public access sites. The Army Corps is among the nation’s largest federal providers of outdoor recreation, operating thousands of recreation areas across 400 lakes and waterways, and welcomes 260 million visitors annually.
The Senators urged the Secretary of the Army and General of the Army Corps to approve a waiver request that would allow the hiring of seasonal workers to reopen these sites.
Click below to read more.
ASA Applauds Inclusion of Chumash National Marine Sanctuary in CA 30×30
The sportfishing industry applauds the inclusion of the Chumash National Marine Sanctuary by the California Ocean Protection Coalition (COPC) in the state’s 30×30 initiative. The Sanctuary, approved in 2024, includes recreational fishing access as an acceptable use under the statute. Since the inception of 30×30, ASA has consistently argued that protected areas can contribute to biodiversity goals while also allowing for responsible, sustainable activities like recreational fishing.
As California moves forward with its 30×30 initiative, ASA is committed to working collaboratively with OPC and other partners to ensure this effort balances environmental, social, and economic priorities.
About The American Sportfishing Association
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade association committed to representing the interests of the sportfishing and boating industries as well as the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry and anglers a unified voice when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. ASA invests in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous, as well as safeguard and promote the enduring economic, conservation and social values of sportfishing in America. ASA also gives America’s 55 million anglers a voice in policy decisions that affect their ability to sustainably fish on our nation’s waterways through Keep America Fishing, our national angler advocacy campaign. America’s anglers generate nearly $50 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for 800,000 people.
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