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| [ Introduced ] | [ Senate Amendment 001 ] |
90_SJ0063eng 90SJ0063 Engrossed LRB9012123PTbd 1 Senate Joint Resolution No. 63 2 (As amended by Senate Amendment No. 1) 3 WHEREAS, Illinois is home to a large and diverse array of 4 fish and wildlife habitat and species, all of which require 5 by law some level of protection and management by the 6 Department of Natural Resources and other local, State, and 7 federal agencies; and 8 WHEREAS, A large majority of Illinois' residents and 9 visitors actively pursue and enjoy the State's diverse fish 10 and wildlife resources as documented by the 1996 National 11 Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation Survey 12 that reported 3 million people in Illinois participated in 13 activities such as bird watching, hiking, wildlife 14 photography, and feeding; and 15 WHEREAS, Wildlife recreation is an important part of the 16 State's economy and accounts for more than $712 million in 17 annual retail sales, $474 million in wages and salaries, and 18 almost 21 thousand jobs in Illinois according to the 1996 19 National Recreation Survey; and 20 WHEREAS, The federal Pittman-Robertson and Wallop-Breaux 21 funds, administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife 22 Service, have been highly successful in helping Illinois and 23 other states protect sportfish and wildlife resources for 24 many years through funds that accrue from small user fees in 25 the form of a federal excise tax on firearms, ammunition, 26 fishing tackle, motor boats, and motor boat fuel; and 27 WHEREAS, A similar and proposed user fee in the form of a 28 federal excise tax on selected outdoor-related products, 29 including binoculars, field guides, tents, and bird feed 30 would generate a new dedicated trust fund of $350 million per 31 year nationally for state-level fish and wildlife 32 conservation, recreation, and education programs; and 90SJ0063 Engrossed -2- LRB9012123PTbd 1 WHEREAS, A recent Gallup poll shows that nearly 3 out of 2 4 (72%) of Illinois residents surveyed would support a slight 3 cost increase in outdoor-related products to help maintain or 4 increase wildlife, and nearly all respondents (97%) said that 5 wildlife and conservation education in the schools is 6 important; and 7 WHEREAS, An estimated $13 million of these federal 8 matching funds would accrue to the Department of Natural 9 Resources for use by the Department and its State and local 10 partners in addressing the critical needs of fish and 11 wildlife species, as well as the recreational and educational 12 needs of Illinois residents and visitors, especially those 13 who enjoy observing and learning about our State's diverse 14 fish and wildlife resources; therefore, be it 15 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY 16 OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 17 CONCURRING HEREIN, that we respectfully urge the U.S. 18 Congress to pass legislation proposed by the Fish and 19 Wildlife Diversity Initiative, known as Teaming With 20 Wildlife, to create a new dedicated trust fund for 21 state-level fish and wildlife management, which would be 22 administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; 23 and be it further 24 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately 25 delivered to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of 26 the United States, and to the President pro tempore of the 27 U.S. Senate, the Speaker of the U.S. House of 28 Representatives, and each member of the Illinois 29 Congressional delegation.