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| [ Engrossed ] | [ Senate Amendment 001 ] |
90_SJ0063
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1 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, Illinois is home to a large and diverse array of
3 fish and wildlife habitat and species, all of which require
4 by law some level of protection and management by the
5 Department of Natural Resources and other local, State, and
6 federal agencies; and
7 WHEREAS, A large majority of Illinois' residents and
8 visitors actively pursue and enjoy the State's diverse fish
9 and wildlife resources as documented by the 1996 National
10 Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation Survey
11 that reported 1.3 million people in Illinois participated in
12 activities such as bird watching, hiking, wildlife
13 photography, and feeding; and
14 WHEREAS, Wildlife recreation is an important part of the
15 State's economy and accounts for more than $712 million in
16 annual retail sales, $474 million in wages and salaries, and
17 almost 21 thousand jobs in Illinois according to the 1996
18 National Recreation Survey; and
19 WHEREAS, The federal Pittman-Robertson and Wallop-Breaux
20 funds, administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife
21 Service, have been highly successful in helping Illinois and
22 other states protect sportfish and wildlife resources for
23 many years through funds that accrue from small user fees in
24 the form of a federal excise tax on firearms, ammunition,
25 fishing tackle, motor boats, and motor boat fuel; and
26 WHEREAS, A similar and proposed user fee in the form of a
27 federal excise tax on selected outdoor-related products,
28 including binoculars, field guides, tents, and bird feed
29 would generate a new dedicated trust fund of $350 million per
30 year nationally for state-level fish and wildlife
31 conservation, recreation, and education programs; and
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1 WHEREAS, A recent Gallup poll shows that nearly 3 out of
2 4 (72%) of Illinois residents surveyed would support a slight
3 cost increase in outdoor-related products to help maintain or
4 increase wildlife, and nearly all respondents (97%) said that
5 wildlife and conservation education in the schools is
6 important; and
7 WHEREAS, An estimated $13 million of these federal
8 matching funds would accrue to the Department of Natural
9 Resources for use by the Department and its State and local
10 partners in addressing the critical needs of fish and
11 wildlife species, as well as the recreational and educational
12 needs of Illinois residents and visitors, especially those
13 who enjoy observing and learning about our State's diverse
14 fish and wildlife resources; therefore, be it
15 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
16 OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
17 CONCURRING HEREIN, that we respectfully urge the U.S.
18 Congress to pass legislation proposed by the Fish and
19 Wildlife Diversity Initiative, known as Teaming With
20 Wildlife, to create a new dedicated trust fund for
21 state-level fish and wildlife management, which would be
22 administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service;
23 and be it further
24 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately
25 delivered to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of
26 the United States, and to the President pro tempore of the
27 U.S. Senate, the Speaker of the U.S. House of
28 Representatives, and each member of the Illinois
29 Congressional delegation.