HR0758LRB097 16734 KXB 61909 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, More than a century ago, hunters, anglers, and
3trappers were among the first conservationists who realized
4America's natural resources were in peril and could not sustain
5unregulated harvest and habitat destruction; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Hunters, anglers, and trappers took it upon
7themselves to support laws that stopped excessive harvest of
8fish and wildlife, established game and fish agencies to
9protect fish, wildlife, and their habitat, and supported
10special fishing and hunting license fees to help fund the new
11agencies' efforts to provide for healthy natural resources for
12future generations; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Upon realizing that license fees alone were
14insufficient to restore and sustain healthy fish and wildlife
15populations, hunters, anglers, and trappers supported excise
16taxes on firearms, ammunition, hunting equipment, and fishing
17equipment to raise additional funds to support restoration and
18enhancement efforts of the State agencies; and
 
19    WHEREAS, These efforts became known as the Wildlife and
20Sport Fish Restoration Program that began 75 years ago with the
21passage of the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act in 1937,
22and again with the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act in

 

 

HR0758- 2 -LRB097 16734 KXB 61909 r

11950, and further expanded with the Wallop-Breaux amendment to
2the Sport Fish Restoration Act in 1984; and
 
3    WHEREAS, The combined contribution of the Wildlife and
4Sport Fish Restoration Programs to State fish and wildlife
5agencies exceeds $13 billion since 1939 (the first year money
6was distributed to the states), more than any other single
7conservation effort in American history; and
 
8    WHEREAS, This cooperative partnership between hunters,
9anglers, trappers, and State natural resource agencies has
10resulted in the most successful model of fish and wildlife
11management in the world, restoring populations from coast to
12coast, Alaska, and Hawaii; therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
14NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
15we recognize America's hunters, anglers, and trappers for their
16leading role in restoring healthy populations of fish,
17wildlife, and other natural resources, both game and non-game,
18to the abundance we see today; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20provided to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, all
21members of the Illinois Congressional delegation, and Illinois
22Governor Pat Quinn.