A HOUSE RESOLUTION honoring the memory of United States Senator Key Pittman and representative Absalom Willis Robertson, while COMMEMORATING THE seventy‑fifth ANNIVERSARY OF THE WILDLIFE AND SPORT FISH RESTORATION PROGRAMS.
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 habitats, 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, the members of the House of Representatives then and now recognize that 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 Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program that began 75 years ago with the passage of the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act in 1937, which was known as the Pittman‑Robertson Act after its principal sponsors, Senator Key Pittman of Nevada and Representative Absalom Willis Robertson of Virginia; and
Whereas, the Pittman‑Roberston Act was then bolstered with the passage of 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 that money was distributed to the states), more than any other single conservation effort in American history, which constitutes, 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, ammunition, archery equipment, manufactured fishing tackle, electric trolling motors, marine electronics, and motorboat fuel and distributed these funds to the states through the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and
Whereas, the manufacturers of firearms, ammunition, hunting, fishing, and boating equipment have supported the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration 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 United States 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, in Alaska, and in Hawaii; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
SECTION 1.  The House of Representatives honors the memory of United States Senator Key Pittman of Nevada and Representative Absalom Willis Robertson of Virginia and expresses its appreciation for the public service they rendered.
SECTION 2.  The House of Representatives recognizes America's hunters, anglers, trappers, boaters, recreational shooters, industry, state fish and wildlife agencies, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for their leading role in restoring healthy populations of fish, wildlife, and other natural resources, both game and nongame, to the abundance we see today through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs, in this the 75th anniversary year of America's greatest conservation story, supported by the American System of Conservation Funding.
SECTION 3.  The Principal Clerk shall transmit certified copies of this resolution to the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources and to North Carolina's congressional delegation.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.