HR0160 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0160 LRB103 31596 MST 59864 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the National Wild Turkey Federation, Inc. on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its founding; and

WHEREAS, The National Wild Turkey Federation was incorporated on March 28, 1973 in Fredericksburg, Virginia and moved its headquarters to Edgefield, South Carolina that same year; and

WHEREAS, Over the course of 50 years, the National Wild Turkey Federation and millions of its members and chapters across the nation have worked with state, federal, and non-governmental partners to promote the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage, participating in one of the greatest conservation success stories in American history, which is the return of the wild turkey from the brink of extinction; and

WHEREAS, The National Wild Turkey Federation, its members, and its chapters have been at the vanguard of reversing declining hunting participation through nationwide investment in hunter recruitment, retention and reactivation efforts, and partnering with states to develop opportunities to engage people from all walks of life in the outdoors tradition; since 2012, it has recruited and reactivated more than 1.5 million hunters; and

WHEREAS, The National Wild Turkey Federation, its members, and its chapters have invested more than half a billion dollars to conserve or enhance more than 22 million acres of critical wildlife habitat, forests, and grasslands across public and private lands since 1985; and

WHEREAS, The National Wild Turkey Federation, its members, and its chapters have invested more than $8.5 million in research throughout North America to ensure healthy wild turkey populations into the future; and

WHEREAS, The National Wild Turkey Federation is the largest and longest-serving non-governmental stewardship partner of the USDA Forest Service, conserving habitat on National Forest System Lands for more than 40 years, and is heavily engaged in the development and implementation of the USDA's Wildfire Crisis Strategy; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the National Wild Turkey Federation, Inc. on the 50th anniversary of its founding and salute the organization, its chapters, and its members from across the United States for their tremendous efforts to further scientific, state-led wildlife management and the conservation of America's wild turkey and its habitat; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the National Wild Turkey Federation as a symbol of our respect and esteem.