Building upon the previous Senate passage, moments ago, the House of Representatives passed the Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023 (S. 788), a bipartisan bill to bring the federal duck stamp process into the 21st century by allowing for hunters to have an electronic federal duck stamp on their smart phone for the entirety of the hunting season. This legislation now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) would like to thank Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Co-Chair Sen. John Boozman, the leader of the Senate bill, and CSC Vice-Chair Rep. Garret Graves, who led the House companion bill, for their commitment and support of America’s sportsmen and women.
Prior to the House floor vote of S. 788, the CSF worked with the bill sponsors in both chambers of Congress and key offices to help shepherd this bill, a CSF legislative priority, through the political process. As a result of CSF’s efforts, the House passed S. 788 on an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote, a sign of the wide-spread support of sportsmen and women. With Congressional passage behind us, CSF will be encouraging the White House to quickly sign this legislation into law. Once this legislation is signed into law, CSF will be working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to implement this legislation to ensure that this legislation is in effect for the 2024 – 2025 hunting season.
The Duck Stamp Modernization Act will simplify the Federal Duck Stamp process by allowing hunters to have an electronic duck stamp on their smartphone for the entirety of the hunting season. Under current law, when a hunter purchases an electronic Federal Duck Stamp (e-stamp), the e-stamp is only valid for a period of 45 days to allow for the actual stamp to be mailed. Once the actual stamp is received by the e-stamp purchaser, the actual stamp must be signed by the respective hunter across the face of the stamp and be in the hunter’s possession while afield. However, this legislation will remove the 45-day validation period and make the electronic stamp valid for the entirety of the hunting season. To ensure the continuance and integrity of the Federal Duck Stamp art contest, a longstanding tradition for waterfowlers and other bird enthusiasts alike, S. 788 will ensure that purchasers of e-stamps still receive the actual stamp in the mail. Specifically, the legislation will provide that actual stamps will be mailed to purchasers from March 10 to June 30.
“CSF extends our thanks to CSC Leaders Sen. Boozman and Rep. Graves for their efforts to see the Duck Stamp Modernization Act pass Congress in short fashion. It is time that hunters no longer have to worry if their actual stamp will arrive in the mail prior to their e-stamp expiring,” said CSF President and CEO Jeff Crane. “This legislation is a common-sense, bipartisan effort that helps simplify antiquated processes for sportsmen and women.”
Over the coming days, CSF will be working with the Administration to get this legislation signed into law and ultimately implemented for the 2024 – 2025 hunting season.
