Georgia General Assembly

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05 LC 18 4746

House Resolution 22EX

By: Representatives Smith of the 168th, Richardson of the 19th, Mosley of the 178th, Keen of the 179th, Hatfield of the 177th, and others

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the Georgia Hunting and Fishing Federation Exposition; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the State of Georgia has a great heritage of hunting and fishing that is enjoyed by 1.2 million people in Georgia each year; and

WHEREAS, hunting and fishing generate $61.5 million in sales tax revenue annually, directly support 21,000 jobs in Georgia, and have a total economic impact of over $2 billion annually; and

WHEREAS, license fees from hunters and anglers are the primary source for wildlife management area land acquisition in Georgia totaling over 100,000 acres since the late 1980's and the annual lease payments on approximately 225,000 acres of wildlife areas. These are natural lands which not only provide hunting and fishing opportunities to Georgia citizens but are also used by bird watchers, hikers, campers, and educational groups; and

WHEREAS, license fees and excise taxes from hunters and anglers have funded the successful restoration of white-tailed deer, wild turkey, black bear, bobwhite quail, and wood ducks in Georgia and the stocking of millions of game fish in lakes and rivers all over the state; and

WHEREAS, the sportsmen and sportswomen of Georgia and the conservation organizations that they support privately with millions of dollars each year work to preserve our state's natural lands and wildlife, which includes nongame as well as game animals; and

WHEREAS, to celebrate the heritage and tradition of these sportsmen and sportswomen, the City of Baxley, Georgia, will host on October 7 and 8, 2005, the second annual Georgia Hunting and Fishing Exposition.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body, on behalf of the citizens of Georgia, recognize the occasion of the second annual Georgia Hunting and Fishing Exposition.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Georgia Hunting and Fishing Federation.