PRINTER'S NO. 4527
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
1061
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY MEHAFFIE, GILLESPIE, HILL-EVANS, FEE, HENNESSEY,
KAUFFMAN, KULIK, SCHLEGEL CULVER, BOBACK, PEIFER, SONNEY,
ROTHMAN, PICKETT, ZIMMERMAN, READSHAW, MURT, SAYLOR, MENTZER,
PASHINSKI, MOUL, MILLARD, FREEMAN, BURNS, WEBSTER, T. DAVIS,
OWLETT AND WILLIAMS, OCTOBER 19, 2020
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
OCTOBER 19, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the 125th anniversary of the Pennsylvania Game
Commission.
WHEREAS, For the past 125 years, the Pennsylvania Game
Commission has managed this Commonwealth's wildlife resources
for all residents of this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Currently, with the help of more than 700 employees
and thousands of volunteers, the Pennsylvania Game Commission
continues to fulfill its duty to manage and conserve all wild
birds and wild mammals and their habitats for all residents of
this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, In 1895, Representative George Kunkle of Dauphin
County introduced legislation to create a six-member board of
commissioners that would employ a chief game protector and nine
game protectors; and
WHEREAS, The commissioners would be appointed by the Governor
and would only be compensated for travel expenses; and
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WHEREAS, Game protectors would be named by the commissioners
and would be given a salary and a stipend for expenses; and
WHEREAS, On June 25, 1895, Governor Daniel H. Hastings signed
the legislation into law; and
WHEREAS, In 1913, all resident hunters in this Commonwealth
were required to purchase a hunting license for $1; and
WHEREAS, In 1913, there were an estimated 305,000 hunters in
this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Currently, there are nearly 1 million license
holders annually, including residents and nonresidents of this
Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, In 1920, the first State game lands, SGL 25, were
purchased, including 6,288 acres in Elk County for $2.75 per
acre; and
WHEREAS, Currently, the Pennsylvania Game Commission manages
more than 1.5 million acres of State game lands; and
WHEREAS, In 1936, the first student game protector class
enrolled at the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Ross Leffler
School of Conservation, America's first game protector or warden
school, had 27 individuals who graduated from that inaugural
class; and
WHEREAS, Currently, 701 game wardens have graduated from the
Ross Leffler School of Conservation; and
WHEREAS, As the trustee of this Commonwealth's wildlife, the
Pennsylvania Game Commission is responsible for managing all 480
species of wild birds and wild mammals and their habitats for
current and future generations on behalf of the residents of
this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Wildlife has always been an important part of this
Commonwealth's cultural heritage; and
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WHEREAS, Each day, this Commonwealth's wildlife touches the
lives of countless residents of this Commonwealth and most of
the residents of this Commonwealth consider wildlife to be a
State treasure; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
125th anniversary of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
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