IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 801 
Recognizing America’s hunters, anglers, trappers, recreational boaters, rec-
reational 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. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska (for himself and Mr. DINGELL) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing America’s hunters, anglers, trappers, rec-
reational 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. 
Whereas the primary authority to protect and manage fish 
and resident wildlife resides with the State fish and wild-
life agencies; 
Whereas, more than a century ago, hunters, anglers, and 
trappers were among the first conservationists who real-
ized America’s natural resources were in peril and could 
not sustain unregulated harvest and unchecked habitat 
destruction; 
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•HRES 801 IH 
Whereas hunters, anglers, and trappers took it upon them-
selves to support laws that stopped excessive harvest of 
fish and wildlife, established State game and fish agen-
cies to protect fish, wildlife, and their habitat, and sup-
ported special fishing and hunting license fees to help 
fund the new agencies’ efforts to provide for healthy nat-
ural resources for future generations; 
Whereas, upon realizing that license fees alone were insuffi-
cient to restore and sustain healthy fish and wildlife pop-
ulations, hunters, anglers, and trappers supported excise 
taxes on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, hunt-
ing equipment, and fishing equipment to raise additional 
funds to support restoration and enhancement efforts of 
the State agencies; 
Whereas this user-pays public benefits 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, was bolstered with 
the passage of the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration 
Act in 1950, and was further expanded with the Wallop- 
Breaux Amendment to the Sport Fish Restoration Act in 
1984; 
Whereas the combined contribution of the Wildlife and Sport 
Fish Restoration Programs to State fish and wildlife 
agencies exceeds $14,000,000,000 since 1939 (the first 
year money was distributed to the States)—more than 
any other single conservation effort in American history 
which, along with fishing, hunting, and trapping license 
fees, collectively constitute the American system of con-
servation funding; 
Whereas the manufacturers of firearms, ammunition, hunt-
ing, fishing, and recreational boating equipment have col-
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