THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY GERGELY, KORTZ, HORNAMAN, HARHAI, KULA, BAKER, BENNINGHOFF, BOBACK, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BROOKS, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, D. COSTA, DALEY, DENLINGER, DeWEESE, DiGIROLAMO, ELLIS, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, HAHN, HANNA, HARKINS, HENNESSEY, M. K. KELLER, KNOWLES, KOTIK, KRIEGER, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MALONEY, McGEEHAN, MILLARD, MIRABITO, MOUL, MURPHY, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, READSHAW, REED, ROCK, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, SONNEY, STABACK, STEVENSON, STURLA, TALLMAN, VEREB, VULAKOVICH AND YOUNGBLOOD, FEBRUARY 7, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, FEBRUARY 7, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport

Fish Restoration Program and America's greatest conservation

story.

WHEREAS, More than a century ago, hunters, anglers and

trappers were among the first conservationists who realized

America's natural resources were in peril and could not sustain

unregulated harvest and habitat destruction; and

WHEREAS, Hunters, anglers and trappers took it upon

themselves to support laws that stopped excessive harvest of

fish and wildlife, established game and fish agencies to protect

fish, wildlife and their habitats and supported special fishing

and hunting license fees to help fund the new agencies' efforts

to provide for healthy natural resources for future generations;

and

WHEREAS, Upon realizing that license fees alone were

insufficient to restore and sustain healthy fish and wildlife

populations, hunters, anglers and trappers supported excise

taxes on firearms, ammunition and hunting and fishing equipment

to raise additional funds to support restoration and enhancement

efforts of the state agencies; and

WHEREAS, These efforts became known as the Wildlife and Sport

Fish Restoration Program that began 75 years ago with the

passage of the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act in 1937,

and again with the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act in

1950, and further expanded with the Wallop-Breaux amendment to

the Sport Fish Restoration Act in 1984; and

WHEREAS, The combined contribution of the Wildlife and Sport

Fish Restoration Program to state fish and wildlife agencies

exceeds $13 billion since 1939, the first year money was

distributed to the states, which is more than any other single

conservation effort in American history; and

WHEREAS, This cooperative partnership among hunters, anglers,

trappers and state natural resource agencies has resulted in the

most successful model of fish and wildlife management in the

world, restoring populations from coast to coast and in Alaska

and Hawaii; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize

America's hunters, anglers and trappers for their leading role

in restoring healthy populations of fish, wildlife and other

natural resources, both game and nongame, to the abundance we

see today; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commemorate the

75th anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration

Program and America's greatest conservation story; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to

the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural

Resources, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Pennsylvania

Fish and Boat Commission, the Pennsylvania Congressional

Delegation and local, regional and national media sources so

that all may know and appreciate the foresight and contributions

from anglers, hunters and trappers on behalf of our nation's

natural resources.