[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 142 (Monday, September 24, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H10701-H10702]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H10701]]
                    NATIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING DAY

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 634) encouraging participation in hunting and 
fishing, and supporting the goals and ideals of National Hunting and 
Fishing Day and the efforts of hunters and fishermen toward the 
scientific management of wildlife and conservation of the natural 
environment, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 634

       Whereas, since the beginning of the 20th century, hunters 
     and fishermen of the United States have been among the most 
     vocal supporters of the scientific management of wildlife and 
     conservation of the natural environment;
       Whereas President Theodore Roosevelt, who was himself a 
     hunter, fisherman, and conservationist, called throughout his 
     Presidency for laws to promote wildlife conservation and to 
     provide lands for recreation;
       Whereas, in June 1971, Senator Thomas McIntyre of New 
     Hampshire and Representative Robert Sikes of Florida 
     sponsored a joint resolution calling for the celebration of 
     ``National Hunting and Fishing Day'' on the fourth Saturday 
     of every September;
       Whereas, in 2006, an estimated 42,500,000 individuals in 
     the United States participated in hunting or fishing 
     activities;
       Whereas, in 2006, hunters and fishermen made a significant 
     contribution to the economy of the United States by spending 
     nearly $75,000,000,000 on hunting and fishing activities;
       Whereas hunters and fishermen recognize the importance of 
     natural resources to the character, heritage, and future of 
     the United States, and work to protect and conserve those 
     resources; and
       Whereas the fourth Saturday of September would be an 
     appropriate day to as celebrate National Hunting and Fishing 
     Day: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That--
       (1) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
       (A) there should be established a day known as National 
     Hunting and Fishing Day; and
       (B) the President should issue a proclamation calling on 
     the people of the United States to observe such a day with 
     appropriate programs and activities; and
       (2) the House of Representatives--
       (A) encourages participation in hunting and fishing; and
       (B) commends the contributions of hunters and fishermen 
     toward the scientific management of wildlife and conservation 
     of the natural environment.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Saxton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from West Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the bill, as amended, under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from West Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  House Resolution 634, as amended, recognizes the contributions that 
American sportsmen and -women make in promoting wildlife conservation. 
The resolution calls on the President to issue a proclamation 
supporting National Hunting and Fishing Day.
  There are an estimated 42.5 million Americans who hunt and fish, 
according to the most recent survey conducted by the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service. Aside from supporting efforts to protect our natural 
environment, these men and women also contribute to our economy. They 
spent $75 billion in 2006 on hunting and fishing activities.
  I commend Congresswoman Gillibrand from New York for introducing this 
resolution, and I urge adoption of the resolution, as amended.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  First, let me thank and commend the gentleman from West Virginia for 
expeditiously bringing this bill to the floor. I rise in strong support 
of H. Res. 634, urging the establishment of a National Hunting and 
Fishing Day.
  Since the founding of our Republic more than 230 years ago, hunting 
and fishing have been woven into the very fabric of our cultural 
heritage. There is no question that sportsmen are among the foremost 
supporters of sound wildlife management and the conservation of our 
natural resources.
  In fact, without the billions of dollars that have been paid by 
sportsmen in excise taxes and duck stamp fees, it is likely that 
President Theodore Roosevelt's vision of a national wildlife refuge 
system would never have been achieved. Today, that system is comprised 
of more than 96 million acres, and more than 90 percent of those 
Federal lands are open to the 42 million Americans who hunt and fish.
  It is appropriate that we designate a National Hunting and Fishing 
Day and that we celebrate on October 9, the 10th anniversary of the 
National Wildlife Improvement Act of 1997. This historic law, sponsored 
by the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) and myself, has the 
fundamental purpose of working to ensure that the American people have 
the finest refuge system in the world and the ability to hunt and fish 
on lands they largely purchased with their hard-earned dollars. It is 
achieving that goal that I believe is very, very important.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlelady from New York (Mrs. Gillibrand).
  Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of House 
Resolution 634, encouraging participation in hunting and fishing 
activities and supporting the goals and ideals of National Hunting and 
Fishing Day.
  This past weekend Americans all over our great Nation celebrated 
National Hunting and Fishing Day.
  In 1971, Senator Thomas McIntyre of New Hampshire and Representative 
Bob Sikes of Florida introduced a joint resolution authorizing National 
Hunting and Fishing Day on the fourth Saturday of September. In 1972, 
President Richard Nixon signed the first proclamation recognizing 
National Hunting and Fishing Day.
  Thirty-five years later, thousands of events have taken place at 
hunting clubs and sportsmen's stores nationwide, bringing communities 
together in a grass-roots effort to promote outdoor activities and 
conservation.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that we, the United States Congress, should 
highlight these historic national pastimes by recognizing the 
contributions that hunters and fishermen have on America's rich 
culture, and encouraging participation in hunting and fishing as a way 
to promote family values, environmental conservation, and stewardship 
of our national resources.
  Each year, over 45 million Americans take part in these traditions. 
Many of these sportsmen and -women live in my district in upstate New 
York. When I hold a town hall meeting in the Hudson Valley, 
constituents tell me about the economic impact that these sports bring 
to our rural communities. I also hear from them about the need for 
strong conservation policies so that they may continue the tradition of 
sportsmanship in their families.
  Many of the folks that I have had the opportunity to speak with have 
lived all of their lives in New York's rural communities and view 
hunting and fishing not only as a pastime, but also a reflection of 
upstate New York's historic character.
  One week from today, turkey season will begin in upstate New York. 
Every year my mother and brother are among the very first in the woods 
when the season begins. My mother takes great pride in her ability to 
shoot a turkey for our Thanksgiving dinner every year.
  I now have the honor to represent over a dozen hunting wildlife 
management areas in three of New York State's environmental 
conservation regions. Nearly 700,000 New Yorkers participate in hunting 
and fishing each year and contribute extensively to our local and 
national economy through licensing, educational courses, and equipment 
purchases.
  The promotion of hunting and fishing activities coincides with 
environmental stewardship. Hunters and fishermen were among the first 
to call for policies to protect our environment and, to this day, 
continue to advocate for land protection and preservation efforts to 
maintain our wildlife and environment for our future generations.

[[Page H10702]]

  I want to take this opportunity to encourage all Americans to get 
into the outdoors and enjoy all that God has provided us.
  I thank my colleagues for their support of this important resolution.
  Mr. RAHALL. 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 West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 634, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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