148 



^^l^' Km (■on 4M'4nB 



State or Alaska 



OrnCC a« TV4I OO^ANOA 

 JUNEAU 



JUDC 19, 1996 



Tbtf Hononbl« iln fUxton 

 U.S. HouM of RcptcKoUtivBg 

 339 Cvmoa House Ofike Buildinf 

 Wuhington, DC 20S1S 



Dear Ch«inn«a Sixtoo: 



I lubmit th« fbllowiag atstODent to be i&elud«d in th« rocoid of the svenight Iwuiag oo te 

 Fuk tad Wildliiie Dlvenity Funding Isitittive (FWDFI) held by ttte Subcoannittoe oa 

 FiakeriM. Wildlife, uid Oceau on June 6, 1996. 



As Oovemor of Aluka, I Mronsly nippon the propoted fiDdexal FWDFI legUlttion oallod 

 "Teuning W1& Wildlife" wfaioh U heisg ^etrheaded by the Intcnuiumal Aieoeiaiion of Fiah 

 and Wildlife Ageocies (lAFWA) ad the Nadooal Aaaociallon of Sou Park* Dirtctors 

 (NASPD). This legislation, which wUl genetate fadenl matching funda for wildlife ( 

 cooMsvation, outdoor ractefliloi\« nd educatioB piogxiios mauaBsd by mte fiih uai vni4^£o 

 aad (t«te pMk H*a«M, is cdtlctUy needed and long overdue. Mod^ed after d» aucceafiil 

 Sptttt Piah and Wildlife Reatontioa Acts, the FWDFI will establiA a dcdicatjiid uaer fee, in 

 the form of a small axsiae tax on die manufkcturer'* eoit of outdoor recicatiea equipment 

 Rerenue generated from this uaer fee will be distributed to states uoda tlie Fedenl Aid to 

 Wildlife Restontlon Prognm on s 7S-.23 percent fedenLstate matching basis. 



The Teaming With Wildlife" Initiative will help the Alaska Dcpeitmeat of FUh and Oame 

 (ADFAO) aad the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation meet the oqpanding public 

 demsod for outdoor reaeetion, strengthen Alaska's visitor industry, and provide signifieant 

 economic benefits to all Alaskans. In addition, these flindi wiJl aaklc ADFAO to maintain 

 its role u the primary wildlife managemenl agency in the state, axtd cnhanoe Alaska's ability 

 to proBCllvely fnanage aoegame speoiea of fish and wildlife and ^veat die need for costly 

 eodangeied species listing. Currtndy, ADF&G's sport fith and wildlife pregrams are fluded 

 entirely by huniMt sad anglers. Thia new legislation would provide an opportunity for other 

 recreational users to contribute their shsre toward management of Alaska's Cah, wildlife, and 

 ouidoor reueatlon. 



Our information suggests outdoor reeteationists (the coniumen) are wiUvng to pay an 

 additioaal small amount on ^ purchue of outdoor gear to support cooserv^un, Yeci«ation. 

 and •ducation programs that ore now tfareateaad by limited funding. The long-term ■oceess of 

 the Pittman-Rcbertaon aad DingeU-Johnson Acts dmonslntss their e&cdveoess and broad 

 public support 



