[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 24, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H6495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF FOUNDING OF INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION 
                     OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 419) requesting the President to 
issue a proclamation in observance of the 100th Anniversary of the 
founding of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife 
Agencies.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 419

       Whereas on September 17, 1902, when Theodore Roosevelt was 
     President, 8 wildlife managers and game wardens from 6 States 
     met in West Yellowstone, Montana, on behalf of the country's 
     beleaguered fish and wildlife populations, and established 
     the National Association of Game and Fish Wardens and 
     Commissioners, which later became the International 
     Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA);
       Whereas 100 years later, IAFWA represents the fish and 
     wildlife agencies of all 50 States and enjoys the membership 
     of several Federal natural resource agencies, the Federal and 
     provincial fish and wildlife agencies of Canada, and the 
     Federal natural resource agency of Mexico;
       Whereas IAFWA has been a significant force in the enactment 
     of fish and wildlife conservation treaties and Federal 
     statutes too numerous to enumerate, including the Migratory 
     Bird Treaty Act; the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration 
     Act; the Dingell-Johnson Sportfish Restoration Act; all farm 
     bills enacted since 1985; the North American Wetlands 
     Conservation Act; the National Wildlife Refuge System 
     Improvement Act of 1997, and the Fish and Wildlife Programs 
     Improvement and National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial 
     Act of 2000, to mention but a few;
       Whereas IAFWA continues to promote the sustainable use of 
     natural resources; to encourage cooperation and coordination 
     of fish and wildlife conservation and management at all 
     levels of government; to encourage professional management of 
     fish and wildlife; to develop coalitions among conservation 
     organizations to promote fish and wildlife interests; and to 
     foster public understanding of the need for conservation; and
       Whereas the State fish and wildlife agencies have 
     successfully restored healthy fish and wildlife populations 
     enjoyed by all Americans largely using Federal excise taxes 
     paid by hunters and anglers into the Federal trust funds 
     known as the Pittman-Robertson, Dingell-Johnson, and Wallop-
     Breaux trust funds, and using State hunting and fishing 
     license fees: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) recognizes the significance of the centennial of the 
     establishment of the entity that became the International 
     Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies;
       (2) acknowledges the outstanding contributions of its 
     member agencies to fish and wildlife conservation; and
       (3) requests the President to issue a proclamation 
     observing the 100th anniversary of the founding of the 
     International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I am pleased to present this resolution, introduced by the gentleman 
from Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), 
which recognizes the International Association of Fish and Wildlife 
Agencies for the dedicated service that they have rendered over the 
past 100 years and the invaluable contributions they have made to fish 
and wildlife management.
  On September 17, 1902, eight wildlife managers from six States met 
together in West Yellowstone, Montana, to form an organization which 
became known as the International Association of Fish and Wildlife 
Agencies. This month they will celebrate their 100th anniversary, and 
it is appropriate to reflect upon the fine work that our State fish and 
wildlife agencies perform on a daily basis. This organization has 
played a key role in conserving and managing thousands of fish and 
wildlife species and their essential habitats throughout the United 
States.
  This resolution recognizes the importance of the centennial 
establishment of this organization, acknowledges the outstanding 
contributions of its member agencies to conservation, and requests the 
President to issue a proclamation commemorating its 100th anniversary.
  This is a good resolution, it is bipartisan, it should be 
noncontroversial; and I urge its adoption.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I too rise in support of this concurrent resolution which recognizes 
the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the International 
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. It is cosponsored by two 
very distinguished Members of this body, on our side of the aisle the 
dean of the House, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), and on 
the majority side the former chairman of the Committee on Resources and 
the current chairman of the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young). I commend these 
gentlemen for bringing this resolution before us, and I urge its 
support.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 419.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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