[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1420 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1420
Expressing support for the designation of the week beginning on October
9, 2022, as ``National Wildlife Refuge Week''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 30, 2022
Mr. Thompson of California (for himself, Mr. Wittman, Mr. Kind, and Mr.
Joyce of Ohio) submitted the following resolution; which was referred
to the Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the designation of the week beginning on October
9, 2022, as ``National Wildlife Refuge Week''.
Whereas, in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt established the first national
wildlife refuge on Pelican Island in Florida;
Whereas, in 2022, the National Wildlife Refuge System, administered by the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, is the premier system of land
and water to conserve wildlife in the world and has grown to 568
national wildlife refuges and 38 wetland management districts, with
units located in every State and territory of the United States;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are important recreational and tourism
destinations in communities across the United States, and this protected
land offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including the six
wildlife-dependent uses of hunting, fishing, wildlife observation,
photography, environmental education, and interpretation;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System receives more than 61,000,000 annual
visits, which generate more than $3,200,000,000 for local economies and
support 41,000 jobs;
Whereas 436 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System have hunting programs
and 378 units have fishing programs that, respectively, support more
than 2,500,000 hunting visits and more than 8,300,000 fishing visits
annually;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System has hosted more than 37,000,000
birding and wildlife observation visits in recent years;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are important to local businesses and gateway
communities;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System contains many different kinds of
ecosystems, including tropical and boreal forests, wetlands, deserts,
grasslands, arctic tundras, and remote islands, and spans 12 time zones
from the United States Virgin Islands to Guam;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are home to more than 700 species of birds,
220 species of mammals, 250 species of reptiles and amphibians, and more
than 1,000 species of fish;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are the primary Federal lands on which the
production, migration, and wintering habitat for waterfowl are fostered;
Whereas, since 1934, the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, which has been
largely funded from the sale of the Federal Duck Stamp to outdoor
enthusiasts, has generated more than $1,100,000,000 and enabled the
conservation of more than 6,000,000 acres of habitat for waterfowl and
numerous other species in the National Wildlife Refuge System;
Whereas refuges provide protection to more than 380 threatened and endangered
species;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are cores of conservation for larger
landscapes and resources for other agencies of the Federal Government,
State governments, private landowners, and organizations in efforts to
secure the wildlife heritage of the United States;
Whereas more than 16,000 volunteers and almost 180 national wildlife refuge
``Friends'' organizations contribute around 762,000 volunteer hours
annually, the equivalent of 360 full-time employees, and provide an
important link to local communities;
Whereas national wildlife refuges provide an important opportunity for children
to discover and gain a greater appreciation for the natural world;
Whereas 101 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System are within 25 miles of
cities and suburbs where 80 percent of individuals in the United States
live;
Whereas, through the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program, the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service works to dismantle barriers that have blocked
underserved communities from full and equal participation in outdoor
recreation and wildlife conservation;
Whereas the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program fosters strong new conservation
coalitions, educates and employs youth, betters communities, builds
trust in government, and connects individuals with nature;
Whereas national wildlife refuges provide opportunities for people from all
backgrounds to explore, connect with, and preserve the nature heritage
of the United States;
Whereas, since 1995, refuges across the United States have held festivals,
educational programs, guided tours, and other events to celebrate
``National Wildlife Refuge Week'' during the second full week of
October;
Whereas the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has designated the week
beginning on October 19, 2022, as National Wildlife Refuge Week; and
Whereas the designation of National Wildlife Refuge Week by the House of
Representatives would recognize more than a century of conservation in
the United States, raise awareness about the importance of wildlife and
the National Wildlife Refuge System, and celebrate the myriad
recreational opportunities available for the enjoyment of this network
of protected lands: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the designation of ``National Wildlife Refuge
Week'';
(2) encourages the observance of National Wildlife Refuge
Week with appropriate events and activities;
(3) recognizes the importance of national wildlife refuges
to wildlife conservation, the protection of imperiled species
and ecosystems, and compatible uses;
(4) acknowledges the importance of national wildlife
refuges for their recreational opportunities and contribution
to local economies across the United States;
(5) finds that national wildlife refuges play a vital role
in securing the hunting and fishing heritage of the United
States for future generations;
(6) identifies the significance of national wildlife
refuges in advancing the traditions of wildlife observation,
photography, environmental education, and interpretation;
(7) recognizes the important work of urban national
wildlife refuges in welcoming racially and ethnically diverse
urban communities that were long excluded, including work to--
(A) foster strong new conservation coalitions;
(B) provide education and employment opportunities
to youth;
(C) improve communities;
(D) build trust in government; and
(E) connect individuals with nature;
(8) acknowledges the role of national wildlife refuges in
conserving waterfowl and waterfowl habitat under the Migratory
Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.);
(9) reaffirms the support of the House of Representatives
for wildlife conservation and the National Wildlife Refuge
System; and
(10) expresses the intent of the House of Representatives--
(A) to continue working to conserve wildlife; and
(B) to manage the National Wildlife Refuge System
for current and future generations.
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