Ducks Unlimited supports raising fee from $15 to $25
The U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee yesterday passed the Federal Duck Stamp Act of 2014, which would raise the price of a federal duck stamp to $25 and dedicate the increase to conservation easements with private landowners.
The measure, sponsored by Rep. John Fleming (R-La.), now heads to the House floor for further consideration.
In a press release, Ducks Unlimited supported the vote, noting it’s been 23 years since the last price increase.
“The price of the duck stamp was last adjusted 23 years ago.” DU CEO Dale Hall said. “Since then, the price of land has tripled and conservation buying power has diminished greatly. Once again, sportsmen and women are willing to lead in funding conservation that benefits all of our citizens.”
Since it was enacted in 1934, the federal duck stamp program has protected nearly 6 million acres of habitat with more than $900 million in expenditures, the release states.
The price of the duck stamp has been raised only seven times, according to the release. The last price increase raised the price of the stamp to its current rate of $15 — the single longest period without a price increase in the program’s history.
