SCR 4

R-118  Page 1 of 1
2025
No. R-118. Senate concurrent resolution recognizing the success of the American
System of Conservation Funding and commemorating the 75th anniversary of the
enactment of federal sport fish restoration legislation.
                                          (S.C.R.4)
  Offered by Senators Brennan, Beck, Collamore, Mattos, Norris, Perchlik, Weeks,
Westman and Williams,
   Offered by Representatives Austin of Colchester, Branagan, C. of Georgia, Campbell
of St. Johnsbury, Canfield of Fair Haven, Demar of Enosburgh, Dickinson of St. Albans
Town, Goslant of Northfield, Higley of Lowell, Howland of Rutland Town, Labor of
Morgan, Laroche of Franklin, Lipsky of Stowe, Maguire of Rutland City, McCoy of
Poultney, Morgan, L. of Milton, Nelson of Derby, Pinsonault of Dorset, Pritchard of
Pawlet, Sibilia of Dover and Tagliavia of Corinth,
   Whereas, the administrative and financial structure that supports natural resource
conservation efforts in the United States is often referred to as the American System of
Conservation Funding, and the original source of its funds was the states’ assessment of
fees for recreational sporting licenses, and
   Whereas, beyond those fees, the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration (Pittman-
Robertson) Act, chapter 899, 50 Stat. 917 (1937), as amended, and the Sport Fish
Restoration (Federal Aid in Fish Restoration) (Fish Restoration and Projects (Dingell-
Johnson)) Act, chapter 658, 64 Stat. 430 (1950), as amended, established new federal
conservation funding, and
   Whereas, these respective acts allocate funds from federal excise tax revenue on hunting
equipment to finance wildlife natural resource restoration projects, and on revenue from
excise taxes on sport fishing equipment and from tariffs imposed on fishing tackles and
boating equipment for fishing restoration support, and
   Whereas, among the fishing-related state beneficiaries are land acquisition and shelter
construction costs, and in our region, the New England Fishery Resources Restoration Act
of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101-593, an amendment to the 1950 Sport Fish Restoration Act,
provided for a study for the “timely and effective implementation of restoration plans and
programs for Atlantic salmon and other fishery resources of selected river systems in New
England,” and the development of “an inventory of important fish and wildlife habitat and
other natural areas of river basins in New England,” now therefore be it
   Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
   That the General Assembly recognizes the success of the American System of
Conservation Funding and commemorates the 75th anniversary of the enactment of federal
sport fish restoration legislation, and be it further
   Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
the Vermont Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife, to the Director of the Office of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, and to the Vermont Congressional Delegation.
                                                                            VT LEG #383140 v.1