The U.S. Congress has passed the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act (H.R. 5110) meaning the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Archery in Louisiana Schools (ALAS) and school hunter education programs will continue to be federally funded once the b ipart i san bill is signed by the President.

This bill addresses un i n tended consequences caused by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) in which federal funding for school hunter education, archery in schools and other important educational enrichment programs could have been withheld.

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) approved a resolution to request Louisiana’s Congressional Delegation to compel the U.S. Department of Education to reverse its decision to restrict federal funding for those programs during its September meeting. “We’re pleased Congress has acted to make sure these vital programs continue to be funded,’’ Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Shadoin said. “Teaching the next generation of outdoors women and men in our state is one of our agency’s top priorities. And ALAS and hunter’s education are on the front line of achieving that mission.’’

For more information on ALAS, go tohttps://www.wlf. louisiana.gov/page/ alas.