H*4805 Resolution, By White and Pitts
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE WILDLIFE AND SPORT FISH
 RESTORATION PROGRAM, AND TO CONGRATULATE THE PARTNERS IN THIS PROGRAM FOR
 SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS OF PROGRESS IN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.

   02/22/12  House  Introduced and adopted (House Journal-page 121)

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE WILDLIFE AND SPORT FISH RESTORATION PROGRAM, AND TO CONGRATULATE THE PARTNERS IN THIS PROGRAM FOR SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS OF PROGRESS IN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.

Whereas, the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina are pleased to learn that a yearlong celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR) is planned in 2012 to honor one of the most significant and successful partnership approaches to fish and wildlife conservation in the nation's history; and

Whereas, the seventy-fifth anniversary celebration will include participation in various fish and wildlife conservation events and conferences throughout the year and culminate with the National Hunting and Fishing Day in September; and

Whereas, on September 2, 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, now called the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, which still fosters partnerships between federal and state fish and wildlife agencies, the sporting arms industry, conservation groups, and sportsmen and women for the benefit of wildlife; and

Whereas, in the early 1900s, many fish and wildlife species were dwindling in numbers or disappearing altogether, so the hunting and shooting industries took initiative to aid the efforts of state fish and wildlife agencies in counteracting the crisis; and

Whereas, manufacturers supported the use of excise taxes on equipment and sought legislation to ensure federal funding would be used to assist agencies in the work of managing and conserving the nation's natural resources and providing hunting access; and

Whereas, in 1950, anglers and the fishing and boating industries established similar funding strategies through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act) and its Wallop-Breaux Boating Trust Fund Amendment in 1984; and

Whereas, because WSFR has made the survival and abundance of certain species possible, many fish and wildlife populations are at historically high levels today; and

Whereas, now in 2012, federal and state fish and wildlife agencies; the hunting, shooting, angling, and boating industries; and conservation groups are marking the milestone of seventy-five years of quality hunting, fishing, shooting, boating, and wildlife-related recreation as a result of their joint efforts; and

Whereas, since it became law in 1937, WSFR has provided more than fourteen billion dollars to support fish and wildlife restoration and management, which is administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and is combined with hunting license dollars in each state to fund vital state wildlife-conservation and hunting programs; and

Whereas, because the industry that provides sporting supplies has a multimillion dollar impact on the national economy and depends on healthy fish and wildlife populations, the continued work of WSFR is more critical than ever. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, and congratulate the partners in this program for seventy-five years of progress in wildlife conservation.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.