Congress saw a need for additional funds to support hunter education and shooting range development, if States were to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
The Congressional Resource Committee had broad support from sportsmen¿s organizations who stated that States were not using their possible
allotments to support these programs or there was not a consistent level of effort to further the future of hunting.
As a result, Congress passed the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000 and as part of this Act created the Firearm and Bowhunter Education and Safety Program (Section 10) to address these concerns.
The passage of Section 10 set aside $ 7. 5 million in 2001 and 2002 and $8 million thereafter to ¿enhance¿ existing hunter education or shooting range programs.