Whereas school archery programs bolster children’s self esteem and improve a student’s grades, behavior, and school attendance; Whereas hunter and archery educational courses are used to teach children the ability to responsibly and safely handle and store firearms; Whereas this Nation’s hunting heritage, and hunter recruitment and retention, is enhanced by the implementation and success of these programs; Whereas at no point did the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act nor any other Act mention prohibiting the funding of these programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act; Whereas a nexus between violent crimes that prompted the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and these educational enrichment programs is nonexistent; Whereas the National Archery in the Schools Program retains 1,300,000 students across 49 States and from nearly 9,000 schools; Whereas hunter and archery educational courses support and teach youth good stewardship of the environment; Whereas the disciplines of archery, marksmanship, and hunting help students develop mental focus, calmness, and psychological resiliency; Whereas the National Archery in the Schools Program conducted a survey indicating that 40 percent of students stated that their participation in these programs motivated them to improve performance within the classroom; and Whereas wilderness safety courses provide essential education information to school children about outdoor risk management techniques: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives condemns the decision of the Secretary of Education to prohibit the use of funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 for hunter, archery, and other shooting sports education programs in schools and explicitly affirms that school programs that train students in archery, hunting, or other shooting sports are eligible for Federal funding under such Act.