In a move to safeguard our constitutional rights and Wyoming’s cherished values, Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) has taken a stand against the Biden Administration’s encroachments.
Last Thursday, Barrasso introduced the “Allowing for Recreational Resources for Outdoor Wellness (ARROW) Act,” aimed at preventing the administration from withholding federal funds from schools that teach firearm and archery safety.
Sen. John Barrasso introduced a bill to prevent the Biden administration from blocking federal funds for schools with hunting and archery programs. The administration's interpretation of a gun control bill led to the funding being blocked, but Barrasso's… https://t.co/pQV14Hwdya
— AM1_NEWS (@am1_news) September 7, 2023
The ARROW Act, if passed into law, will serve as a bulwark against federal interference in firearm and archery safety programs in Wyoming and across the nation. It is part of the battle against a Biden Administration plan that would misuse the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, signed into law last year, to cut funding to schools offering hunting and archery programs.
“These crucial programs not only provide students with essential firearm and archery instruction but also significantly reduce firearm-related accidents and injuries,” Barrasso emphasized.
“Furthermore, they connect our youth to the rich traditions of America and the West,” he added.
Barrasso added, “Our legislation will put an end to any attempts to deny funding to schools that offer hunter education and archery programs, ensuring that Washington politics stay far away from Wyoming’s schools.”
The ARROW Act has garnered support from several influential organizations, including the Wyoming Department of Education, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the National Rifle Association, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Safari Club International, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
The bill has received accolades from within Wyoming, a state deeply proud of its Second Amendment heritage.
Megan Degenfelder, Wyoming State Superintendent of Public Instruction, remarked, “As Wyoming State Superintendent of Public Instruction, I understand how vital these programs are for our students, not just in Wyoming but across the country. The Biden Administration’s actions threaten our cherished educational programs and our way of life.”
Brian Nesvik, Wyoming Game and Fish Director, added his support, stating, “These programs play a vital role in instilling a conservation ethic in our state’s youngest citizens and teach them the importance of wildlife and safety.”
As the appropriations process deadline looms, Senators hold the key to restraining administration actions by allocating funds for various government functions. However, with the September 30 deadline fast approaching, Congress is on track for yet another continuing resolution.
This move would deny elected officials the opportunity to carefully assess which government programs should be funded and at what levels, simply extending current funding instead.
Historically, Congress has relied on last-minute omnibus spending bills, combining the 12 appropriations bills into one package, with limited room for amendments. In fact, the current spending levels were set last December after a series of continuing resolutions pushed the funding deadline into the holiday season. This approach left members of Congress with a singular vote on trillions of dollars in government funding.
The misapplication of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act by the Biden Administration could have dire consequences for schools. The National Archery in Schools Program reveals that over 1.3 million students in more than 8,000 schools nationwide participate in archery programs annually.
The ARROW Act has already garnered 22 Senate cosponsors, demonstrating bipartisan support for protecting essential firearm and archery safety programs. Sens. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Steve Daines (R-MT), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jim Risch (R-ID), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) and many others have rallied behind Barrasso’s initiative to preserve these programs that are deeply embedded in our nation’s heritage.
