Sportsmen oppose cuts in House funding bill

Sportsmen's groups warned Wednesday that budget cuts to conservation programs proposed by the U.S. House of Representatives will hit Montana and other rural states hard.

The cuts are contained in House Resolution 1, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 19. Congress returns to Capitol Hill this week to negotiate the final funding resolution by April 8.

Among programs that face substantial budget cuts or total elimination are the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund, farm bill conservation programs, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, State and Tribal Wildlife Grants and the Clean Water Act.