LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Wild-
life and Sportfish Restoration Program, 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, estab-
lished game and fish agencies to protect fish, wildlife and their habi-
tat, 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, This Legislative Body, then and now, recognizes the primary
authority to protect and manage fish and resident wildlife within their
borders resides in the state fish and wildlife agencies; 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,
archery equipment, hunting equipment, and fishing equipment to raise
additional funds to support restoration and enhancement efforts of the
state agencies; and
WHEREAS, This user pay-public benefit system became known as the Wild-
life and Sport Fish Restoration Program that began 75 years ago with the
passage of the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act in 1937, and then
was bolstered with the passage of the Federal Aid in Sportfish Restora-
tion Act in 1950, (further expanded with the Wallop-Breaux amendment to
the Sportfish Restoration Act in 1984); and
WHEREAS, The combined contribution of the Wildlife and Sportfish
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 --
which constitute, collectively, the American System of Conservation
Funding; and
WHEREAS, The manufacturers of firearms, ammunition, hunting, fishing,
and boating equipment have collected excise taxes on firearms, ammuni-
tion, archery equipment, manufactured fishing tackle, electric trolling
motors, marine electronics and motorboat fuel and distributed these
funds to the states through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and
WHEREAS, The manufacturers of firearms, ammunition, hunting, fishing,
and boating equipment have supported the Wildlife and Sportfish Restora-
tion Programs and continue to exhibit a spirit of cooperation with the
state fish and wildlife agencies; and
WHEREAS, This cooperative partnership between industry, hunters,
anglers, trappers, boaters, recreational shooters, the U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service 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; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Wildlife and Sportfish Restora-
tion Program, America's greatest conservation story, and to recognize
America's hunters, anglers, trappers, boaters, recreational shooters,
industry, state fish and wildlife agencies, and the U. S. Fish and Wild-
life Service for their leading role in restoring healthy populations of
fish, wildlife and other natural resources; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.