March 18, 2026

Partner with a Payer Program Showcases How Federal Excise Taxes Power Conservation—With Henry Repeating Arms’ American Craft at the Core

NSSF highlights how firearm and ammunition manufacturers’ Federal Excise Taxes fund habitat, hunter education, and public shooting opportunities across America.

RICE LAKE, WI — NSSF^®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, is spotlighting the impact of its Partner with a Payer^® (PWP) program — an initiative that brings manufacturers together with state and federal conservation leaders to show how federal excise taxes under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman–Robertson Act) become on-the-ground results for wildlife, hunters and recreational shooters nationwide. Since 1937, the program has generated over $18.5 billion (more than $31 billion when adjusted for inflation) for conservation, fueling habitat restoration, research, hunter education and public shooting ranges in all 50 states.

As a featured participant in PWP, Henry Repeating Arms exemplifies the American craft and natural legacy behind this funding model. Through PWP, agency partners and industry peers see firsthand how quarterly federal excise tax payments from manufacturers flow through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and are invested by state fish and wildlife agencies — “boots on the ground” work that benefits deer, turkey, pheasant and diverse species while expanding access and education for the next generation.

“Our mission has always been to build quality firearms on American soil — and the American model of conservation funding is one of the best examples of the public and private sectors working together,” said Dan Clayton-Luce, Vice President of Communications at Henry Repeating Arms. “Federal excise taxes support hunter education, range development and access — benefits that reach well beyond hunters to anyone who enjoys abundant wildlife and the outdoors.”

The Partner with a Payer framework deepens understanding across the complete conservation pathway — from manufacturers to federal excise taxes to state-level investments — by opening factory doors, encouraging dialogue with state and federal professionals and highlighting measurable outcomes. That transparency helps industry teams and the public see how dedicated funding translates into new and improved ranges, hunter-education programming and habitat work people can experience in their own communities.

This initiative is supported by the NSSF and produced in collaboration with Shine United LLC / Kingdom Filmworks.

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About NSSF
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org.

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NSSF Media contact:
Bill Brassard
203-426-1320 ext. 212

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