House Engrossed Senate Bill

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-third Legislature First Regular Session 2017

SENATE CONCURRENT MEMORIAL 1004

 

A CONCURRENT MEMORIAL

 

Urging the United States Congress to support hunting, angling and wildlife conservation.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

To the Congress of the United States of America:

Your memorialist respectfully represents:

Whereas, states are the primary caretakers of wildlife through the public trust doctrine and collectively contribute $5.6 billion annually toward wildlife conservation; and

Whereas, the American system of conservation funding depends heavily on the financial support of hunters and anglers, who make the largest monetary contributions to the conservation of fish and wildlife, largely through the purchase of licenses and hunt permit-tags and self-imposed excise taxes on ammunition and outdoor recreation equipment; and

Whereas, Arizona has a rich, historic tradition of hunting and angling that dates back to before statehood and carries forward to this day; and

Whereas, Arizona's wildlife is held in the public trust, one of the core concepts guaranteeing opportunities for all to participate in hunting, angling and wildlife conservation; and

Whereas, Arizona's sportsmen and sportswomen were among the first conservationists to support the establishment of the Arizona Game and Fish Department to conserve fish and wildlife and their habitats and to help fund state efforts to provide for healthy natural resources; and

Whereas, Arizona sportsmen and sportswomen continue to provide the funding for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the primary steward of the state's fish and wildlife resources; and

Whereas, Arizona's 786,000 hunters and anglers — or one out of every seven residents — represent an economic powerhouse with spending that exceeds $1.2 billion per year; and

Whereas, Arizona's hunting and angling industries are a vital economic driver, supporting 18,200 jobs that generate $699 million in salaries and wages and creating economic opportunity, particularly in rural communities; and

Whereas, angling generates almost $900 million in retail sales and supports more than 12,000 jobs; and 

Whereas, the annual spending by Arizona's hunters and anglers generates $131 million in state and local taxes and another $156 million in federal taxes; and

Whereas, the Arizona Game and Fish Department successfully conserves and protects more than 800 native wildlife species; and

Whereas, hunting and angling provide the financial backbone for world-class stewardship of natural resources through a "user pays — public benefits" approach that represents the most effective system of fish and wildlife management; and

Whereas, hunters and anglers must respect private property rights while they are engaged in their hunting and angling endeavors; and

Whereas, National Hunting and Fishing Day was established in 1972 and is celebrated the fourth Saturday of each September to recognize hunters and anglers for their immense contributions to fish and wildlife conservation and to society; and

Whereas, hunting and angling in Arizona are an important part of the state and local historic customs, culture, heritage and economies; and

Whereas, the historic uses of Arizona's rivers, lakes, streams, forests and rural lands over several centuries have included hunting and angling.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1.  That the United States Congress respect the historic and current use of Arizona's recreational areas by sportsmen and sportswomen, support the time-honored Arizona traditions of hunting and angling, the very backbone of conservation, and respect the administration of wildlife conservation through the sound science delivered by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and science-based policies developed by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission.

2.  That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.