Exempt the Trust Funds

 

75+ Years of Trust Funds History

On September 2, 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, now called the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, which to this day fosters partnerships between federal and state fish and wildlife agencies, the sporting arms industry, conservation groups and sportsmen and women to benefit wildlife.

But leading up to this historic event...
In the early 1900s, when many fish and wildlife species were dwindling in numbers or disappearing altogether, the hunting and shooting industries stepped forward to help state fish and wildlife agencies counteract the crisis.

Manufacturers supported the use of excise taxes on equipment and sought legislation to ensure federal funding would be directed to aid agencies in managing and conserving America’s natural resources and providing hunting access. This is the legislation signed by President Roosevelt.

Later, anglers and the fishing and boating industries established similar funding strategies through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act) in 1950 and its Wallop-Breaux Boating Trust Fund amendment in 1984.
 
 
 
 

 

Through WSFR, America's System of Conservation Funding, more than $14billion dollars have been entrusted to state fish and wildlife agencies for fisheries and wildlife restoration and management; hunter, angler and boater access; as well as for hunter and boater safety education.

 
 
©2012 Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
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