INHOFE-TESTER INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN PUBLIC LANDS FILMING BILL
Congressional Desk
June 12, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, introduced legislation with Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) to lessen the burdens for small commercial filming on public lands. Specifically, this legislation provides special permitting to small film crews, defined in the bill as five persons or fewer, to pay a reasonable annual fee to film on public lands.
"Our nation´s public lands are an incredible natural resource, and the professional outdoor media industry is a valuable way to bring awareness to these resources through documentaries, sporting programs, and other productions," said Senator Inhofe. "Small filming crews can be negatively affected by the current permitting and fee schedule because the business of wildlife filming is done on a speculative basis and often relies on unpredictable factors requiring much patience and time. The small professional outdoor filming industry has enough natural barriers; the federal government should not impose itself as another barrier through daily fees that add to the expense."
Steve Scott, the past Chairman of the Professional Outdoor Media Association, said, "By drawing a distinction between the outdoor media and large Hollywood-style film crews, this bill re-establishes a method of equitable access to public lands for the outdoor and environmental press that was intended when Congress first addressed this question. We are grateful to Senators Inhofe and Tester for their leadership in addressing this important issue."
Last Congress, Congressmen Dan Boren (D-Okla.) and Don Young (R-Alaska) introduced H.R.5502, a bill similar to the legislation Senators Inhofe and Tester introduced today. H.R.5502 was supported by nearly 30 outdoors and sportsmen´s organizations including: the American Fisheries Society, the American Sportfishing Association, the Archery Trade Association, Bass Pro Shops, the Berkley Conservation Institute, Boone and Crockett Club, Bowhunting Preservation Alliance, Campfire Club of America, Catch – A – Dream Foundation, the Congressional Sportsmen´s Foundation, Conservation Force, Dallas Safari Club, Mule Deer Foundation, the National Assembly of Sportsmen´s Caucuses, the National Rifle Association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the North American Bear Foundation, the North American Grouse Partnership, Pheasants Forever, Pure Fishing, Quality Deer Management Association, Quail Forever, the Ruffed Grouse Society, Safari Club International, the Texas Wildlife Association, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the U.S. Sportsmen´s Alliance, the Wild Sheep Foundation, and Wildlife Forever.
This Congress, Congressmen Boren, Ryan, Courtney, Miller, Putnam, and Ross introduced H.R.2031 on April 22, 2009, which is identical to the legislation Senators Inhofe and Tester introduced today.
"Our nation´s public lands are an incredible natural resource, and the professional outdoor media industry is a valuable way to bring awareness to these resources through documentaries, sporting programs, and other productions," said Senator Inhofe. "Small filming crews can be negatively affected by the current permitting and fee schedule because the business of wildlife filming is done on a speculative basis and often relies on unpredictable factors requiring much patience and time. The small professional outdoor filming industry has enough natural barriers; the federal government should not impose itself as another barrier through daily fees that add to the expense."
Steve Scott, the past Chairman of the Professional Outdoor Media Association, said, "By drawing a distinction between the outdoor media and large Hollywood-style film crews, this bill re-establishes a method of equitable access to public lands for the outdoor and environmental press that was intended when Congress first addressed this question. We are grateful to Senators Inhofe and Tester for their leadership in addressing this important issue."
Last Congress, Congressmen Dan Boren (D-Okla.) and Don Young (R-Alaska) introduced H.R.5502, a bill similar to the legislation Senators Inhofe and Tester introduced today. H.R.5502 was supported by nearly 30 outdoors and sportsmen´s organizations including: the American Fisheries Society, the American Sportfishing Association, the Archery Trade Association, Bass Pro Shops, the Berkley Conservation Institute, Boone and Crockett Club, Bowhunting Preservation Alliance, Campfire Club of America, Catch – A – Dream Foundation, the Congressional Sportsmen´s Foundation, Conservation Force, Dallas Safari Club, Mule Deer Foundation, the National Assembly of Sportsmen´s Caucuses, the National Rifle Association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the North American Bear Foundation, the North American Grouse Partnership, Pheasants Forever, Pure Fishing, Quality Deer Management Association, Quail Forever, the Ruffed Grouse Society, Safari Club International, the Texas Wildlife Association, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the U.S. Sportsmen´s Alliance, the Wild Sheep Foundation, and Wildlife Forever.
This Congress, Congressmen Boren, Ryan, Courtney, Miller, Putnam, and Ross introduced H.R.2031 on April 22, 2009, which is identical to the legislation Senators Inhofe and Tester introduced today.
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