Bill > HR578

This resolution commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Sport Fish Restoration Program, recognizing the critical role of anglers, boaters, and conservation agencies in protecting and enhancing fish populations in the United States. The resolution traces the history of conservation efforts, highlighting how sportsmen and women initially supported laws to prevent excessive wildlife harvesting and established special license fees to fund conservation. It specifically acknowledges the Sport Fish Restoration Program, which began in 1950 and was expanded in 1984, and explains that the program is funded through manufacturers' excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat/small engine fuels, which are then distributed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to state agencies for fisheries conservation, management, and public access. The resolution celebrates the program's success, noting that since 1939, the combined Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs have contributed over $78 billion to conservation efforts, making it the most significant conservation initiative in American history. Ultimately, the resolution commends anglers, boaters, the sportfishing industry, state wildlife agencies, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their collaborative efforts in restoring and maintaining healthy fish populations across the United States and its territories.

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71324