Establishment of Wildlife Disease Trust Fund

Number: 2017-05

 

WHEREAS, fish and wildlife diseases present a serious risk to the nation’s native and naturalized wildlife populations; and

WHEREAS, responses to outbreaks of fish and wildlife diseases require the mobilization of people, resources, and communications assets by the state and its partners; and

WHEREAS, the funding for fish and wildlife disease response is primarily borne by hunters, anglers, and trappers through their license dollars; and

WHEREAS, no funds have been set aside to provide for fish and wildlife disease response; and

WHEREAS, fish and wildlife disease outbreaks are becoming regional and at times national events.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in its Annual Meeting assembled June 8-10, 2017 in Stevenson, Washington, supports the establishment of a federal fish and wildlife disease trust fund; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the federal fish and wildlife disease trust fund created shall be available for state agency response to fish and wildlife disease outbreaks; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the fish and wildlife disease trust fund be established outside of the discretionary spending framework established by Congress so that the funds are not subject to appropriation by Congress.