2012 Issue Briefs

2012 marks the 75^th anniversary of the incredibly successful Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration Programs. Funds generated through excise taxes on sporting goods, such as firearms and ammunition (collected through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, or Pittman-Robertson Act, passed in 1937), and on fishing equipment and motorboat fuel (collected through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act, or Dingell-Johnson Act, passed in 1950, amended to become the Dingell-Johnson/Wallop-Breaux Act in 1984) provide important revenue streams for the state fish and wildlife agencies that are tasked with managing the majority of our nation’s wildlife.

Throughout time, the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Fund has collected more than $12 billion dollars in taxes from hunters, anglers, and shooters, which have been used to fund a variety of conservation and sportsmen’s access projects throughout the nation. These excise taxes, combined with the sale of sporting licenses, make up the American System of Conservation Funding which has historically contributed hundreds of millions of dollars each year to these same agencies. Some estimates place the total contribution of sportsmen (hunters, fishermen, and trappers) at more than 75%, in some cases nearly 100%, of the overall yearly budget of state wildlife management agencies. 

Working with our partners in the conservation community we have drafted a model resolution (below) which recognizes the importance of the historical contributions of sportsmen and women to conservation through these programs, as well as the overall importance of the programs in general. We urge each caucus to consider modifying this resolution as needed and introducing it this year. For more information, please contact your regional CSF staff member.  

A RESOLUTION

COMMEMORATING THE 75^TH ANNIVERSARY

 OF THE WILDLIFE AND SPORTFISH RESTORATION PROGRAMS

 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, established game and fish agencies to protect fish, wildlife and their habitat, 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 <House of Representatives or Senate> 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, These efforts 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, and then was bolstered with the passage of the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act in 1950, (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 money was distributed to the states) – more than any other single conservation effort in American history;

Whereas, Industry has collected the excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, manufactured fishing tackle, electric trolling motors, marine electronics and motorboat fuel and provided these funds to the states through the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and

Whereas, Industry has supported the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs and continues 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; therefore be it

Resolved, That the <House of Representatives or Senate> recognizes America’s hunters, anglers, trappers, boaters, recreational shooters, industry, state fish and wildlife agencies, and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their leading role in restoring healthy populations of fish, wildlife and other natural resources, both game and non-game, to the abundance we see today; and be it further