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16 USC § 7901 - Congressional declaration of national policy

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t16/s7901"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "16 USC § 7901 - Congressional declaration of national policy"
title_number: 16
title_name: "CONSERVATION"
section_number: "7901"
section_name: "Congressional declaration of national policy"
chapter_number: 98
chapter_name: "SPORTSMEN’S ACCESS TO FEDERAL LAND"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "NATIONAL POLICY"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 116–9, title IV, § 4001, Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 756.)"
---

# § 7901. Congressional declaration of national policy

**(a)** **In general** Congress declares that it is the policy of the United States that Federal departments and agencies, in accordance with the missions of the departments and agencies, Executive Orders 12962 and 13443 (60 Fed. Reg. 30769 (June 7, 1995); 72 Fed. Reg. 46537 (August 16, 2007)), and applicable law, shall—

**(1)** facilitate the expansion and enhancement of hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting opportunities on Federal land, in consultation with the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council, the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council, State and Tribal fish and wildlife agencies, and the public;

**(2)** conserve and enhance aquatic systems and the management of game species and the habitat of those species on Federal land, including through hunting and fishing, in a manner that respects—

**(A)** State management authority over wildlife resources; and

**(B)** private property rights; and

**(3)** consider hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting opportunities as part of all Federal plans for land, resource, and travel management.

**1** **Exclusion** [^1]

In this title, the term “fishing” does not include commercial fishing in which fish are harvested, either in whole or in part, that are intended to enter commerce through sale.

See References in Text note below.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 116–9, title IV, § 4001, Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 756.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Executive Order 12962, referred to in subsec. (a), is Ex. Ord. No. 12962, , 60 F.R. 30769, which is set out as a note under .

Executive Order 13443, referred to in subsec. (a), is Ex. Ord. No. 13443, , 72 F.R. 46537, which is set out as a note under .

This title, referred to in subsec. (b), means title IV of , , , which enacted this chapter and amended , , Government Organization and Employees, , Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, and , Money and Finance. For complete classification of title IV to the Code, see Tables.