Berks County News

Rep. David Maloney from Berks County announced significant developments affecting hunters and archers in Pennsylvania. The state House has rejected a $150 million diversion of Pittman-Robertson funds by the Senate, and the Biden administration has reversed its decision to ban hunter education and archery programs in schools.

Maloney stated, "On July 28, I issued advising sportsmen and sportswomen that non-elected officials in the Biden administration had interpreted the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act as prohibiting hunter education and archery teams in schools across the nation. To enforce this ban, the Biden administration declared it would deny federal funds to any school that continued to offer these programs."

He further explained his role in authoring legislation allowing public school spaces for hunter safety courses. Maloney attributed the reversal of the ban to pressure from sports enthusiasts and his press release, which led to a bipartisan bill being passed quickly through Congress.

"This measure, the bipartisan Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act (H.R. 5110), was spearheaded by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, of which I am a member, and signed into law by Joe Biden on Oct. 6," Maloney noted. This ensures federal funding for various educational programs remains intact.

Additionally, Maloney highlighted another victory: "The next piece of good news was the rejection last week by the state House of the Senate’s illegal ‘transfer’ of $150 million in Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGA) funds to the Clean Stream Fund." He emphasized that this action was deemed illegal by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since PGA funds are designated under Pittman-Robertson Act regulations.

The issue now lies with House Bill 1300—the Fiscal Code—which requires negotiation between Pennsylvania's House and Senate after both chambers passed different versions. This is necessary for establishing a constitutional Fiscal Code guiding spending under Governor Shapiro's administration.