HCR 25-WILDLIFE & SPORT FISH RESTORATION PROGRAM  5:04:31 PM CHAIR THOMPSON announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 25, Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program. 5:04:57 PM REPRESENTATIVE MARK NEUMAN, Alaska State Legislature, presented HCR 25 as the prime sponsor. He said that the wildlife and sport fish restoration program was being commemorated on its 75th anniversary with recognition to sportsmen, industry, and state and federal agencies that have been active in preserving this heritage. He reported that wildlife restoration began with the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, which established funding for restoration of wildlife and the acquisition, development, and management of habitats. He noted that this act was amended in 1970 to provide funding for hunter training programs and public shooting ranges. He noted that in 1950 the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act used a federal excise tax on fishing gear and motor boat fuel to fund grant money for fishery conservation, boating access, and aquatic education. He declared that these all created an effective "user pay - user benefit system." He declared that, since 1939, the contributions to state fish and wildlife agencies from wildlife and sport fish restoration programs had exceeded $13 billion. He emphasized that this was "a model of conservation unique to the rest of the world" and: it is my hope that the Alaska State Legislature, on the 75th Anniversary of the nation's greatest conservation story, recognizes the leading roles that hunters, anglers, boaters, recreational shooters, and industry, and state and federal wildlife agencies all have played in restoring healthy populations of fish and wildlife and other natural resources by passing this resolution. 5:09:00 PM LISA EVANS, Assistant Director, Division of Sport Fish, Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), testified that the Alaska Department of Fish & Game supported HCR 25 and its recognition of the most successful fish and wildlife restoration and management program in the world. She stated that the unique "user pay - user benefit system" had allowed the ADF&G to actively manage the state fish and wildlife resources to ensure opportunities for the present and the future. She reported that the wildlife and sport fish restoration program had paid nearly $666 million to ADF&G since 1942, which had been essential to the operation and management for research, education, and public access to the resources. 5:10:33 PM MS. EVANS reported that Whittier was the only natural, ice free, deep water port in Southcentral Alaska, was close to Anchorage, and was the gateway to Prince William Sound and its numerous sport fishing and recreational boating opportunities. She stated that the sport fish restoration and angler license dollars had been used to rehabilitate and improve the old boat launch ramp facilities and mooring dock. She said that a significant amount of wildlife restoration dollars had been spent on monitoring the population size, calf production and survival, adult mortality, health and body conditions, and meat assessment for human consumption of the Western Arctic Caribou herd. 5:12:33 PM MS. EVANS offered a final example of combined wildlife and sport fish restoration dollars, which were leveraged with private donations and volunteer efforts, to sponsor introductory events to encourage anglers and hunters to enjoy the abundance in Alaska. These skills-oriented programs, including Becoming an Outdoorswoman, hunter education, outdoor youth days, and Alaska Conservation camp, ensured the future of the "user pay - user benefit system." She summarized that the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program was an American legacy that was beneficial to everyone, and she expressed her gratitude to the user groups which provided the funding. 5:14:52 PM REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN, in response to Representative Johnson, said that an amendment to add others to the list of those receiving copies of the resolution would be welcomed. 5:16:04 PM REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1, as follows: Page 2, line 27, after "sent to the" Insert "Safari Club International (SCI) Alaska, National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses," There being no objection, it was so ordered. 5:16:43 PM REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON moved to report HCR 25, Version 27- LS1350\M, as amended, out of committee with the accompanying individual recommendations and zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHCR 25(FSH) was reported from the House Special Committee on Fisheries.