65 



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POST orr^c* bo« f« 



Mr R Max Peterson April 15, 1996 



Execuuve Vice President 

 IntemaQoDal Associaaoo of Fish and 



WUdbfe Agencies 

 444 North Capitol Street, NW 

 Saitc544 

 Washington, DC 20001 



Dear Mr. Peterson; 



The State of Looisiaoa is known as the *^portsinan's Paradise." Indeed, it has an extensive 

 recreatioaal and commeraal indnstry hased upon the abundance of oor natural resouttxs Those 

 industries generate billions of dollars to the ecooomy, and through a combined effort of the stale 

 and federal govenua^ts generate motiey to support activities through programs such as the 

 DingcU Johnson, F>ittmaD-Robert5oa, and Wallop-Breaux federal initiatives Although these 

 programs are highly successful, the state must struggle each year with finding sufficient funds to 

 continue and enhance our programs. 



The Wildlife Diversity Fooding Initiative seeks to provixle additional tnonies from wildlife 

 enthusiasts to fiirther the cnissioo of conserving biodiversity. In Louisiana, 86 percent of our 

 vertebrate species of wildlife are not btrnted. fished, or trapped- The proposed legislation would 

 allow the state to focus efforts on many wildlife species that are in decline prior to their being 

 listed as thicatcned or endangered. The appctiacfa to wildlife manag^incnt w :)uld become 

 proactive instead of reactive. This initialive is particularly auractive to me because the products 

 proposed to be taxed are non-essential or luxury items. It allows everyone who has a stake in 

 outdoor recicatioa to contribute to cooservatioo. edncation, and ircreational enhancements. 



I am pleased to join all ibose who are Teanung with Wildlife" and to have the State of 

 Louisiana listed as a mnnber of yoor natioaal coalition. 



Senator J. Bennett Johnston 

 Senator John Breaux 

 Congressman Robert Livingston 

 Congressman WHliam Jefferson 

 Congresstnan W J. "^illy" Tatizin 

 Congressman Qco Fields 

 Congressman Jun McCtery 

 Congtessman Richard Baker 

 Cangressman Jimmy Hayes 

 ^Mi. James R Jenkins, Jr., Seawaty. LA Depaitment of Wildlife and Fisheries 



