Bill > HR1023

This resolution commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Sport Fish Restoration Program, recognizing the critical role of anglers, conservationists, and government agencies in protecting and managing fish populations and aquatic resources in the United States. The resolution highlights how hunters and anglers were among the first conservationists to address the unsustainable harvesting of natural resources, establishing state agencies and supporting special licensing fees to protect fish and wildlife habitats. It emphasizes the Sport Fish Restoration Program, which began in 1950 and was expanded in 1984, as a successful conservation funding model that uses manufacturer's excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuels to support fisheries conservation and management. The resolution notes that since 1939, the program and associated license fees have contributed over $78 billion to conservation efforts, making it the most significant conservation funding initiative in American history. The Oklahoma House of Representatives officially recognizes the collaborative partnership between the sportfishing industry, anglers, boaters, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and state natural resource agencies for their contributions to restoring and enhancing fish populations across the United States and its territories.

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hr1023&Session=2600