HR578: HR578 Sport Fish Restoration Program; part of the American System of Conservation Funding; 75th anniversary; recognize

25 LC 112 3287 House Resolution 578 By: Representatives Cannon of the 172nd, Rhodes of the 124th, Petrea of the 166th, McDonald III of the 26th, and Kelley of the 16th A RESOLUTION Commending the Sport Fish Restoration Program as part of the Am erican System of1 Conservation Funding upon its 75th anniversary; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, more than a century ago, hunters and anglers were amon g the first3 conservationists to recognize that America's natural resources were in peril and could not4 sustain unregulated harvest and habitat destruction; and5 WHEREAS, sportsmen and women took it upon themselves to support laws that stopped6 excessive harvesting of fish and wildlife; established state agencies to protect fish, wildlife,7 and their habitat; and supported special fishing and hunting license fees to help fund these8 agencies' efforts to provide healthy natural resources for future generations; and9 WHEREAS, upon realizing that license fees alone were insufficie nt to restore and sustain10 healthy fish populations, anglers supported excise taxes on fis hing equipment to raise11 additional funds to support restoration and enhancement efforts of state agencies; and12 WHEREAS, the Sport Fish Restoration Program, which began 75 years ago with the passage13 of the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act in 1950 and was further expanded with the14 H. R. 578 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3287 Wallop-Breaux amendment to the Sport Fish Restoration Act in 19 84, is a vital part of15 conservation funding in the United States; and16 WHEREAS, a manufacturers' excise tax on fishing equipment, along with an excise tax on17 motorboat and small engine fuels, is primarily distributed back to the states through the18 United States Fish and Wildlife Service for fisheries conservation, management, and angler19 and boater access; and20 WHEREAS, this cooperative partnership between the sportfishing industry, anglers, boaters,21 the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and state natural resource agencies has resulted22 in the most successful model of fisheries management in the world, restoring and enhancing23 populations across the United States and its territories; and24 WHEREAS, since 1939, the combined contribution of the Wildlife and Sport Fish25 Restoration Programs and license fees to state fish and wildlife agencies has exceeded $7826 billion—more than any other single conservation effort in American history—collectively27 constituting the American System of Conservation Funding.28 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that29 the members of this body commend America's anglers and boaters, the sportfishing industry,30 state fish and wildlife agencies, and the United States Fish an d Wildlife Service for their31 leading role in restoring healthy populations of fish and aquat ic resources, both game and32 non-game, to the abundance seen today through the Sport Fish Restoration Program, in this33 the 75th anniversary year of the program's establishment as part of the American System of34 Conservation Funding.35 H. R. 578 - 2 - 25 LC 112 3287 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized36 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution avai lable for distribution to the37 public and the press.38 H. R. 578 - 3 -