President Biden Signs Hunter Education and Shooting Programs Funding Fix

Schools with these programs will continue to be funded by Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) funds after Biden signed the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act into law on Friday.

The overwhelmingly bipartisan-supported bill fixed language inserted into the ESEA last year by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022. The U.S. Department of Education misinterpreted that language to pull certain federal funding from schools that have programs that provide or train individuals in the use of “dangerous weapons,” including hunter education, archery and other shooting sports programs.

“This is an example of how when hunters, conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts unite with one voice, we can make a difference,” NWTF co-CEO Jason Burckhalter said. “NWTF members and the members of many other hunting conservation organizations contacted their congressional representation, and Congress acted.”

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill nearly unanimously, with only one holdout, and the Senate was united in its support.

The language in question was intended by Congress to prohibit arming and training teachers and other school staff, but the Department of Education’s interpretation threatened to pull ESEA funding from schools that offer programs for students that involve training in firearms, archery equipment and similar equipment.

“At a time when hunter numbers are declining and threatening the future of conservation funding in the United States, the removal of these programs that serve as gateways into the outdoors would have severely hampered nationwide efforts to reverse the tide and recruit new hunters to the field,” Burckhalter said. “We are grateful for our members, the members of Congress and the president for their immediate response in support of these programs. It illustrates that hunting, archery and shooting are still cherished and relevant activities in our country.”