HR0758 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0758 LRB097 16734 KXB 61909 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

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 habitat, 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, hunting equipment, 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 Programs to State fish and wildlife agencies exceeds $13 billion since 1939 (the first year money was distributed to the states), more than any other single conservation effort in American history; and

WHEREAS, This cooperative partnership between 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, Alaska, and Hawaii; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 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 non-game, to the abundance we see today; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be provided to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, all members of the Illinois Congressional delegation, and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.