According to a report in USA Today, the two members of Congress who are leading the charge to eliminate military spending on sponsorships in professional sports, including fishing, are prepared to introduce a second amendment when H.R. 5856, the Defense Appropriations Act for 2013, is heard in the house as early as today.
Reps. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) and Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) have led the movement to ban military spending on sponsorships in pro sports and if either amendment survives, the National Guard would no longer be allowed to sponsor pro-level FLW events.
The new amendment differs from the original in that it targets more than $70 million budgeted by the military for sponsorships in 2013. The measure outlines that the savings would go toward deficit reduction.
The new amendment comes on the heels of the Army’s announcement last week that it will discontinue its involvement as a NASCAR team sponsor beyond this season.
FLW officials have been busy trying to lobby its fanbase to appeal to their Congress members to defeat the proposal, which would bring an end to a partnership that started in 2006 and has seen the National Guard take a prominent position as a presenting sponsor of several FLW tournament offerings.
Last week, FLW posted an open letter to its fans, the second such letter, updating them on the matter and encouraging action. To read it, click here.
To read the USA Today article, click here.
