Nuts and Bolts of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Program

The permanent-indefinite appropriation status of Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration (SFR) funding exempts it from being subject to annual Congressional approval.  This fact, coupled with SFR protection against misuse of state fishing license revenues, has led this program to being a pillar of state fisheries agency funding for the past 60 years.  This presentation follows the SFR funding process from collection of excise taxes on fishing equipment and outboard motorboat fuels to apportionment among state fisheries agenciesto expenditure of funds.  It provides an overview of the different grant programs supported by SFR funding and the mechanics of their distribution and rules on their use.  Historical trend information on program receipts is presented,such as the increasing contribution of fuels taxes that now represent 79 percent of revenues.  State SFR expenditures are examined over the past 20 years for trends, such as the increasing percentage spent on hatchery programs and decreasing percentage spent on research and survey projects.  Final thoughts are offered on challenges ahead in keeping SFR funding that is currently over $350 million per year secure as the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program celebrates its 75^th anniversary.