Hansen's Venison Donation Bill Faces Elimination

Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed HF 2171, the Omnibus Game and Fish Bill. The bill contains several controversial provisions, including the elimination of the venison donation program that allows hunters to donate deer carcasses to Minnesota food shelves. Donating a deer carcass requires a small fee to cover the costs of inspection and processing. Federal law requires the FDA to examine donated food for traces of lead that may result from bullet wounds. The program is not funded by taxpayer dollars.

State Representative Rick Hansen (DFL – South St. Paul) was the chief author of the law that established the venison donation program. Rep. John Persell (DFL – Bemidji) offered a bipartisan amendment to restore the program, but it was defeated on an almost entirely Republican party-line vote.

Rep. Hansen released the following statement:

“Once again, the Republican majority has chosen to pass a Game and Fish bill that is a special interest wish list rather than a bill based on sound science and sound policy. Republicans have continually shown an aversion to science when it comes to environmental policy.

“Furthermore, the elimination of the venison donation program makes absolutely no sense. Deer hunters oppose eliminating it, state agencies oppose eliminating it, and Minnesotans oppose eliminating it. Republicans were so determined to kill this program that at one point they actually had language in the bill that stated that venison donated for charity was not food.

“Most food shelves around the state won’t accept the donated venison unless it’s inspected by a third-party. It’s unfortunate that in a time when people are still struggling, the legislature would actually try to make it more difficult for people to donate food to food shelves. The people of Minnesota certainly deserve better than this.”

Source: Minnesota House of Representatives